George Kekewich (Roundhead)

George Kekewich was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in the 1640s. He supported the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War.

St Mawes Castle (foreground) and Pendennis Castle (background)

In April 1640, Kekewich was elected Member of Parliament for Liskeard for the Short Parliament.[1] He was not elected in November 1640, but supported the Parliamentary cause, becoming a lieutenant colonel. In August 1646 he petitioned the House of Lords "That he hath been in the Service of the State, in Plymouth, Cornwall, and Devonshire, ever since the Beginning of these Troubles, and being reduced, he is out of any Employment Therefore desireth some Place, whereby he may do the State further Service" and as a result was made Governor of St Mawes Castle.[2] He then joined the Long Parliament in 1647 to replace members disabled as Royalists, but was himself excluded in 1648 in Pride's Purge.[1] St Mawes castle remained a prison under his governorship as appears in his correspondence with Robert Bennet.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.
  2. ^ House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 18 August 1646, Journal of the House of Lords: volume 8: 1645-1647 (1767-1830), pp. 465–467. Date accessed: 6 October 2010
  3. ^ Guide to the Robert Bennet Papers, 1603-1678
Parliament of England
Vacant Member of Parliament for Liskeard
1640
With: John Harris
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Liskeard
1647 – 1648
With: Thomas Povey
Seat not represented until 1659