James Lewis (MP for Cardiganshire)
Encyclopedia
James Lewis was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1624 and 1656. He supported the Royalist and then the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War
.
Lewis was the son of Sir John Lewis
of Abaernant-bychen and his wife Bridget Pryse, daughter of Sir Richard Pryse
. He matriculated at Jesus College, Oxford
on 14 March 1617 aged 15. In 1624, Lewis was elected Member of Parliament
for Cardiganshire in the Short Parliament
. He was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in 1625, 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years
Lewis was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in April 1640 for the Short Parliament
. He was a Royalist at the beginning of the Civil War, but in January 1645 was appointed one of the sequestraton committee for Cardigan, Pembroke and Carmarthen counties. He was Colonel in a regiment of the parliamentary army and captured Newcastle Emlyn for parliament in December 1645. His regiment was ordered to be disbanded in March 1648 though it was retained a little longer. Information was laid against him on 12 February 1649 that he had fought originally for the king, had protected Royalists when on the sequestration committee and his regiment had cost the state £50,000. An order was made for his discharge on 15 March 1649 under the general act of pardon for South Wales. He was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
.
After the Restoration he was nominated for the honour of Knight of the Royal Oak. He was High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
in 1664. He was described as "a person of inoffensive, facile constitution, forced fron a Royalist to act as a colonel for King and Parliament:seldom out of publique offices, though averse to undertake any; loved more for doing no wrong, than for doing of any good"
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1624 and 1656. He supported the Royalist and then the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Lewis was the son of Sir John Lewis
John Lewis (of Abernant)
Sir John Lewis was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1604 to 1611.Lewis was the son of James ap Lewis of Abernant-bychan. He was admitted at Jesus College, Oxford on 22 April 1598, aged 17, and entered the Inner Temple in November 1598. He was knighted on 29 June 1604. In...
of Abaernant-bychen and his wife Bridget Pryse, daughter of Sir Richard Pryse
Richard Pryse (of Gogerddan)
Sir Richard Pryse was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1584.Pryse was the eldest son of John Pryse of Gogerddan. He became a student of the Inner Temple in November 1583. In 1584, he was elected Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire. He was High Sheriff of Cardiganshire...
. He matriculated at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
on 14 March 1617 aged 15. In 1624, Lewis was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Cardiganshire in the Short Parliament
Short Parliament
The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks....
. He was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in 1625, 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years
Lewis was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in April 1640 for the Short Parliament
Short Parliament
The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks....
. He was a Royalist at the beginning of the Civil War, but in January 1645 was appointed one of the sequestraton committee for Cardigan, Pembroke and Carmarthen counties. He was Colonel in a regiment of the parliamentary army and captured Newcastle Emlyn for parliament in December 1645. His regiment was ordered to be disbanded in March 1648 though it was retained a little longer. Information was laid against him on 12 February 1649 that he had fought originally for the king, had protected Royalists when on the sequestration committee and his regiment had cost the state £50,000. An order was made for his discharge on 15 March 1649 under the general act of pardon for South Wales. He was re-elected MP for Cardiganshire in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
.
After the Restoration he was nominated for the honour of Knight of the Royal Oak. He was High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
The office of High Sheriff of Cardiganshire was established in 1541 since when a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Dyfed as part of the creation of Dyfed from the amalgamation of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire...
in 1664. He was described as "a person of inoffensive, facile constitution, forced fron a Royalist to act as a colonel for King and Parliament:seldom out of publique offices, though averse to undertake any; loved more for doing no wrong, than for doing of any good"