Sir Simon Archer
Encyclopedia
Sir Simon Archer was an English antiquary and politician who sat in the House of Commons
in 1640.
Archer was the eldest son of Andrew Archer (died 1629) of Umberslade Hall
, near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire
. Like his father, he expanded the family estate. He was knighted on 21 August 1624 at Warwick Castle.
In 1628 Archer was appointed High Sheriff of Warwickshire
and, in April 1640, elected as Member of Parliament
for Tamworth
in the Short Parliament
. He remained neutral in the English Civil War
in 1642, but two of his sons fought on the Parliamentary side. From 1644 he himself served on the parliamentarian subcommittee for accounts in Warwickshire, which served as a curb on the more militant members of the county committee. In the 1650s, he was active as a Justice of the Peace
in local government, and (unusually) retained this office after the Restoration
, until his death.
His main claim to fame was as an antiquary, starting work on the history of his native county in the 1630s. William Dugdale
was initially his assistant, but when Archer became more involved in public affairs, Dugdale took over the lead, resulting in the publication in 1656 of Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, with a fulsome acknowledgement to Archer's work in the epistle dedicatory.
He married Anne, daughter of Sir John Ferrers of Tamworth Castle. He was succeeded at Umberslade Hall by his second son Thomas
. His great grandson, another Thomas
was created Baron Archer
in 1747.
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...
in 1640.
Archer was the eldest son of Andrew Archer (died 1629) of Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall is a 17th century mansion converted into residential apartments situated near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building....
, near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. Like his father, he expanded the family estate. He was knighted on 21 August 1624 at Warwick Castle.
In 1628 Archer was appointed High Sheriff of Warwickshire
High Sheriff of Warwickshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
and, in April 1640, elected as 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 Tamworth
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
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 remained neutral 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...
in 1642, but two of his sons fought on the Parliamentary side. From 1644 he himself served on the parliamentarian subcommittee for accounts in Warwickshire, which served as a curb on the more militant members of the county committee. In the 1650s, he was active as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in local government, and (unusually) retained this office after the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, until his death.
His main claim to fame was as an antiquary, starting work on the history of his native county in the 1630s. William Dugdale
William Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
was initially his assistant, but when Archer became more involved in public affairs, Dugdale took over the lead, resulting in the publication in 1656 of Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, with a fulsome acknowledgement to Archer's work in the epistle dedicatory.
He married Anne, daughter of Sir John Ferrers of Tamworth Castle. He was succeeded at Umberslade Hall by his second son Thomas
Thomas Archer (1619-1685)
Thomas Archer , of Umberslade Hall in Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire, was the second son of Sir Simon Archer. He served as a Parliamentary Colonel during the English Civil War and at the Restoration became Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the Convention Parliament , although he did not...
. His great grandson, another Thomas
Thomas Archer, 1st Baron Archer
Thomas Archer, 1st Baron Archer was an English Member of Parliament, who was created Baron Archer in 1747.He was the son and heir of Andrew Archer of Umberslade Hall in Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire and his wife Elizabeth Dashwood...
was created Baron Archer
Baron Archer
Lord Archer, Baron of Umberslade, in the County of Warwick, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created on 14 July 1747 for Thomas Archer, who had previously represented Warwick and Bramber in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He sat as Member of...
in 1747.