Introduction

Early life

1616-17

1628-29

1640

1642

1643

1644

1645

1647

1648

1649

1650

1651

1653

1654

1655

1656

1657

1658

Introduction

Since Oliver Cromwell's death as Lord Protector in 1658 his life, ambitions, motives and actions have been the subject of scholarly investigation and intense, often vitriolic, debate. Whatever position is taken on Cromwell, "Chief of Men"; or "Brave Bad Man", his importance as a key figure in one of the most troubled periods of British history is unassailable.

Early life

Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon, England on April 25th 1599. He attended Huntingdon Grammar School, now the Cromwell Museum.

1616-17

Cromwell enters Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge - a college with strong Puritan ethos - to study Law. After the death of his father in June 1617 he leaves college, without taking his degree, to support his family.

1628-29

Cromwell becomes the Member of Parliament for Huntingdon in 1628. In 1629 Parliament is dissolved by Charles I.

1640

Charles I reconvenes Parliament. Cromwell is returned as Member of Parliament for Cambridge.

1642

Cromwell raises troops for Parliament.

1643

Cromwell becomes Colonel in the Eastern Association.

1644

Cromwell is made Lieutenant-General of the Eastern Association Army - Battle of Marston Moor, 2 July - Battle of Newbury, 27 October

1645

Cromwell promoted to Lieutenant-General of New Model Army - Battle of Naseby, 14 June

1647

Supports Parliamentary Army in clashes with Parliament.

1648

Crushes royalist rising in South Wales - Battle of Preston, 18 August

1649

Supports trial and execution of King Charles I, January - Commands army sent to crush Ireland, August

1650

Commands army sent to crush Scotland, July - Battle of Dunbar, 3 September

1651

Battle of Worcester, 3 September

1653

Cromwell dissolves Parliament, 20 April - Cromwell becomes Lord Protector

1654

Meets first Protectorate Parliament, September

1655

System of Major-Generals established, October

1656

Meets second Protectorate Parliament

1657

Rejects Parliament's offer of the crown and remains Lord Protector, March to June

1658

Cromwell dies at Whitehall, 3 September

Welcome to the home page of the Cromwell Association. We aim to encourage interest in the life and times of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector, who was born in Huntingdon in 1599 and died at Whitehall in 1658. Cromwell is an intensely controversial figure equally reviled and revered both during his lifetime and after. This site contains a wide range of information and resources to investigate. Explore the site to find out more about his life, times and significance.

If you are interested to see if a particular place has a connection to Cromwell, look at The Cromwellian Gazetteer, a comprehensive guide to places connected to Cromwell. It also has a very useful guide to where Cromwell was on any particular date.

Perhaps you are interested in your family history and want to look at a genealogy of Cromwell. This site has a full family tree for Cromwell and his descendants, down to about 1900. If you are looking for an ancestor who you believe may have been an officer in the parliamentary army, browse the Directory of Parliamentary Officers.

Our annual journal, Cromwelliana, is a rich resource of articles on Cromwell and other aspects of 17th century history. The whole archive of the journal, other than the most recent, is available free for you to look at.

The Association was established in 1937 and has a wide range of members all fascinated, for many different reasons, by the complexity of both Cromwell as an individual and the age in which he lived. We welcome new members and invite you to consider joining us. Click for more membership benefits.

A brief history of Oliver Cromwell