Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex
Encyclopedia
Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex (1575 – 6 August 1645) was a successful merchant in London
, England
.
of England and Scotland
by Lord Northampton
, and entered the Royal service in 1605.
In 1613 he was knighted and was appointed Surveyor-General of Customs; in 1616 he became one of the Masters of Requests, and in 1619 Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries
and Chief Commissioner of the Navy. He was returned to Parliament as Member for Hythe
in 1614 and for Arundel
in 1621. Cranfield, who was also Master of the Wardrobe, was responsible for many economies in the public service, and his business acumen was very useful to the King. He took part in the attack on Lord St Alban
in 1621, and although, contrary to general expectation, he did not succeed him as Lord Chancellor
, he was created Baron Cranfield, of Cranfield in the County of Bedford, in July of that year. In 1621 also he became Lord High Treasurer
, and in September 1622 was created Earl of Middlesex
.
He lost his positions and influence shortly afterwards because he opposed the projected war with Spain, and had incurred the hostility of the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Buckingham
. Impeached by the House of Commons
for corruption, he was found guilty by the House of Lords
in May 1624 and was sentenced to lose all his offices, to pay a heavy fine and to be imprisoned during the King's pleasure. However, he was released from prison in a few days, was pardoned in the following year, and was restored to his seat in the House of Lords in 1640. Middlesex died on 6 August 1645.
He left with other issue a son, James Cranfield, 2nd Earl of Middlesex
(1621–1651), who succeeded him as 2nd Earl and was a partisan of the parliamentary party during the English Civil War
. The 2nd Earl was succeeded by his brother, Lionel
, who died without issue in October 1674, thereafter the Earldom of Middlesex and Barony of Cranfield became extinct.
The 1st Earl's youngest daughter, Frances, married Lord Buckhurst
, later 5th Earl of Dorset
, and their eldest son, Charles, by then Lord Buckhurst, was created Earl of Middlesex
in 1675. Two years later he succeeded as 6th Earl of Dorset
, and this Earldom of Middlesex was held by the Earls and then Dukes of Dorset until 1843, when it became extinct.
Children by his first wife Elizabeth Sheppard (d. 1617):
Childen by his second wife Anne Brett (d.1670):
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Life
He was the second son of Thomas Cranfield, a mercer at London, and his wife Martha Randill, the daughter and heiress of Vincent Randill of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent. He was apprenticed in to Richard Sheppard, a mercer in London. He married his daughter Elizabeth in 1599, shortly after going into partnership with his father-in-law. He was introduced to King James I and VIJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
of England and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
by Lord Northampton
Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton
Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton was a significant English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspect as a crypto-Catholic throughout his life, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered greatly. He was distinguished for learning, artistic culture and his...
, and entered the Royal service in 1605.
In 1613 he was knighted and was appointed Surveyor-General of Customs; in 1616 he became one of the Masters of Requests, and in 1619 Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries
Court of Wards and Liveries
The Court of Wards and Liveries was a court established during the reign of Henry VIII in England. Its purpose was to administer a system of feudal dues; but as well as the revenue collection, the court was also responsible for wardship and livery issues....
and Chief Commissioner of the Navy. He was returned to Parliament as Member for Hythe
Hythe
Hythe may refer to a landing-place, port or haven, or to:Placenames in Canada*Hythe, Alberta Placenames in England*Hythe, Essex *Hythe, Hampshire...
in 1614 and for Arundel
Arundel
Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
in 1621. Cranfield, who was also Master of the Wardrobe, was responsible for many economies in the public service, and his business acumen was very useful to the King. He took part in the attack on Lord St Alban
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
in 1621, and although, contrary to general expectation, he did not succeed him as Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, he was created Baron Cranfield, of Cranfield in the County of Bedford, in July of that year. In 1621 also he became Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
, and in September 1622 was created Earl of Middlesex
Earl of Middlesex
Earl of Middlesex was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1622 for Lionel Cranfield, 1st Baron Cranfield, the Lord High Treasurer. He had already been created Baron Cranfield, of Cranfield in the County of Bedford, the year before, also in the...
.
He lost his positions and influence shortly afterwards because he opposed the projected war with Spain, and had incurred the hostility of the Prince of Wales
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
. Impeached by the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for corruption, he was found guilty by the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in May 1624 and was sentenced to lose all his offices, to pay a heavy fine and to be imprisoned during the King's pleasure. However, he was released from prison in a few days, was pardoned in the following year, and was restored to his seat in the House of Lords in 1640. Middlesex died on 6 August 1645.
Family
His second wife was Anne Brett (died 1670), a cousin of Buckingham's mother, whom he married somewhat reluctantly in 1621 in order to ensure Buckingham's support.He left with other issue a son, James Cranfield, 2nd Earl of Middlesex
James Cranfield, 2nd Earl of Middlesex
James Cranfield, 2nd Earl of Middlesex , styled Lord Cranfield from 1622 until 1645, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640 and inherited his peerage in 1645....
(1621–1651), who succeeded him as 2nd Earl and was a partisan of the parliamentary party during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. The 2nd Earl was succeeded by his brother, Lionel
Lionel Cranfield, 3rd Earl of Middlesex
Lionel Cranfield, 3rd Earl of Middlesex was an English peer, styled Hon. Lionel Cranfield from 1640 until 1651....
, who died without issue in October 1674, thereafter the Earldom of Middlesex and Barony of Cranfield became extinct.
The 1st Earl's youngest daughter, Frances, married Lord Buckhurst
Richard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorset
Richard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorset was an English peer and politician.He was born at Dorset House, the second of three children of Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset...
, later 5th Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset is a title that has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1411 for Thomas Beaufort, who was later created Duke of Exeter. The peerages became extinct on his death....
, and their eldest son, Charles, by then Lord Buckhurst, was created Earl of Middlesex
Earl of Middlesex
Earl of Middlesex was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1622 for Lionel Cranfield, 1st Baron Cranfield, the Lord High Treasurer. He had already been created Baron Cranfield, of Cranfield in the County of Bedford, the year before, also in the...
in 1675. Two years later he succeeded as 6th Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset is a title that has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1411 for Thomas Beaufort, who was later created Duke of Exeter. The peerages became extinct on his death....
, and this Earldom of Middlesex was held by the Earls and then Dukes of Dorset until 1843, when it became extinct.
Children by his first wife Elizabeth Sheppard (d. 1617):
- Martha Cranfield, Countess of Monmouth (b. 1601)
- Elizabeth Cranfield, Countess of Sheffield (b. 1608)
- Mary Cranfield (1610-1636)
Childen by his second wife Anne Brett (d.1670):
- James Cranfield, 2nd Earl of MiddlesexJames Cranfield, 2nd Earl of MiddlesexJames Cranfield, 2nd Earl of Middlesex , styled Lord Cranfield from 1622 until 1645, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640 and inherited his peerage in 1645....
(1621-1651) - Frances Cranfield, Countess of Dorset (b.1622)
- Lionel Cranfield, 3rd Earl of MiddlesexLionel Cranfield, 3rd Earl of MiddlesexLionel Cranfield, 3rd Earl of Middlesex was an English peer, styled Hon. Lionel Cranfield from 1640 until 1651....
(1625-1674) - Edward Cranfield (b.c 1628)
- Susanna Cranfield (c.1631-1636)