Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough
Encyclopedia
Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough (28 September 1610 – 10 January 1666/1667) was an English
Royalist
army commander in the Midlands during the English Civil War
.
and Lady Elizabeth Stanley
. His siblings included, Lady Alice Hastings, Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon
(b. 1608), Lady Elizabeth Hastings
and Lady Mary Hastings (b. 1612). His mother, at one time, was fourth-in-line to inherit England's throne. She was a great great granddaughter of Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk
.
He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, Hastings declared himself a supporter of King Charles I
and the family home, Ashby-de-la-Zouch castle, became a vital link between the Royalist south-west and the north – particularly as much of the rest of Leicestershire
supported the Parliamentary cause. Hastings was made High Sheriff of Leicestershire
that same year (1642) by King Charles.
Hastings, therefore, as Colonel Hastings, became engaged in various skirmishes between the opposing forces, seeing action at the Battle of Hopton Heath
, fighting a small battle at Cotes Bridge near Loughborough
and later losing an eye to a pistol shot after an exchange near Bagworth
, all in 1643. He was thereafter known as Blind Henry Hastings by the Parliamentarians, who refused to recognise his new title. Later that year, his forces captured and lost the town of Burton upon Trent
.
However, as the war progressed and Royalist fortunes waned, Ashby—already the target of action in 1644—was subject to a prolonged siege between September 1645 and its surrender in March 1646. Hastings, ennobled as the first Baron Loughborough on 23 October 1643, for his services to Charles I, marched out with the honours of war. The castle was later partly demolished, with the remaining Hastings family moving to Donington Hall
near Derby.
In the Second Civil War he and Arthur, Lord Capell in raising troops for the Royalists, joined the Earl of Norwich
, Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle in Essex and took part in the Siege of Colchester
. He surrendered with the others on 28th August 1648 and was exiled by Parliament (he fled to Holland) on the 18th November 1648. In this he was fortunate as Capell, Lucas and Lisle were all executed for their part in the rebellion.
Upon the Restoration
(for which he had worked secretly as a founder member of The Sealed Knot), Hastings was able to return to England and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire
in 1661 although he only ever lived in London from then on, in a Manor House in Hackney Wick he renamed Loughborough House. He died in 1667 unmarried and without issue and his title became extinct.
Several streets and a railway station in the Brixton area of London perpetuate his name.
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...
Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
army commander in the Midlands 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...
.
Life
He was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, the fifth child and second son of Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of HuntingdonHenry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon
Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon was a prominent English nobleman and literary patron in England during the first half of the seventeenth century.-Life:...
and Lady Elizabeth Stanley
Lady Elizabeth Stanley
Elizabeth Stanley, Countess of Huntingdon was an English noblewoman and writer who was third in line of succession to the English throne. She was the wife of Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon...
. His siblings included, Lady Alice Hastings, Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon
Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon
Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon was the son of Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon and Lady Elizabeth Stanley, the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer...
(b. 1608), Lady Elizabeth Hastings
Lady Elizabeth Hastings
Lady Elizabeth Hastings , known as Lady Betty, was a benefactor and the daughter of the 7th Earl of Huntingdon. Her brother George became the 8th Earl. On her father's death in 1701 her brother passed on to her the estate of Ledston or Ledstone Hall, near Castleford, West Yorkshire, and she lived...
and Lady Mary Hastings (b. 1612). His mother, at one time, was fourth-in-line to inherit England's throne. She was a great great granddaughter of Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk
Mary Tudor (queen consort of France)
Mary Tudor was the younger sister of King Henry VIII of England and queen consort of France through her marriage to Louis XII. The latter was more than 30 years her senior. Following his death, which occurred less than two months after her coronation as his third wife, she married Charles Brandon,...
.
He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, Hastings declared himself a supporter of King Charles I
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 family home, Ashby-de-la-Zouch castle, became a vital link between the Royalist south-west and the north – particularly as much of the rest of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
supported the Parliamentary cause. Hastings was made High Sheriff of Leicestershire
High Sheriff of Leicestershire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Leicestershire. 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...
that same year (1642) by King Charles.
Hastings, therefore, as Colonel Hastings, became engaged in various skirmishes between the opposing forces, seeing action at the Battle of Hopton Heath
Battle of Hopton Heath
The Battle of Hopton Heath, in Staffordshire, was a battle of the First English Civil War, fought on Sunday 19 March 1643 between Parliamentarian forces led by Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet and Sir William Brereton and a Royalist force under Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton...
, fighting a small battle at Cotes Bridge near Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
and later losing an eye to a pistol shot after an exchange near Bagworth
Bagworth
Bagworth is a village in Leicestershire, England, west of Leicester.-History:There are records of the manor of Bagworth from the early 14th and early 15th centuries, when it was held by the same feudal lords as the neighbouring manor of Thornton....
, all in 1643. He was thereafter known as Blind Henry Hastings by the Parliamentarians, who refused to recognise his new title. Later that year, his forces captured and lost the town of Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
.
However, as the war progressed and Royalist fortunes waned, Ashby—already the target of action in 1644—was subject to a prolonged siege between September 1645 and its surrender in March 1646. Hastings, ennobled as the first Baron Loughborough on 23 October 1643, for his services to Charles I, marched out with the honours of war. The castle was later partly demolished, with the remaining Hastings family moving to Donington Hall
Donington Hall
Donington Hall is a house and residual estate in Castle Donington, North West Leicestershire, located close to the city of Derby. The Hall serves as the headquarters for airline BMI....
near Derby.
In the Second Civil War he and Arthur, Lord Capell in raising troops for the Royalists, joined the Earl of Norwich
Earl of Norwich
Earl of Norwich was a title that was created four times in British history, three times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1626 in favour of the courtier and politician Edward Denny, 1st Baron Rose...
, Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle in Essex and took part in the Siege of Colchester
Siege of Colchester
The siege of Colchester occurred in the summer of 1648 when the English Civil War reignited in several areas of Britain. Colchester found itself in the thick of the unrest when a Royalist army on its way through East Anglia to raise support for the King, was attacked by Lord-General Thomas Fairfax...
. He surrendered with the others on 28th August 1648 and was exiled by Parliament (he fled to Holland) on the 18th November 1648. In this he was fortunate as Capell, Lucas and Lisle were all executed for their part in the rebellion.
Upon 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...
(for which he had worked secretly as a founder member of The Sealed Knot), Hastings was able to return to England and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire
Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire. Since 1703, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Leicestershire.*Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset 1549–1551*Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon 1551–1552...
in 1661 although he only ever lived in London from then on, in a Manor House in Hackney Wick he renamed Loughborough House. He died in 1667 unmarried and without issue and his title became extinct.
Several streets and a railway station in the Brixton area of London perpetuate his name.