Richard Jennings
Encyclopedia
Richard Jennings or Jenyns (c. 1619-8 May 1668), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1642 and 1668. He took the Parliamentary side in the Civil War
. He was the father of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
, who was confidant of Queen Anne
.
Jennings succeeded his father, Sir John Jennings, as head of the family in August 1642, and took residence at Sandridge
in Hertfordshire
. He was also elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for St Albans
in succession to his father in 1642. He fought for the parliamentary cause in the Civil War, and was captured by the Royalists and imprisoned for some time. As a moderate he was secluded from parliament under Pride's Purge
in December 1648. He was re-elected MP for St Albans in Richard Cromwell's
Third Protectorate Parliament
in 1659. He took a leading role in the restored Long Parliament during the few weeks of 1660 when the secluded members resumed their seats, and was then elected MP for St Albans for the Convention Parliament. He was re-elected MP for St Albans in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament
and sat until his death in 1668.
Jennings married Frances Thornhurst, daughter and heiress of Sir Gifford Thornhurst, 1st Baronet. She brought with her the manor of Agney, Kent
. Their daughters, Sarah
and Frances, were both noteworthy figures at the court of Charles II
. Frances, nicknamed "La Belle Jennings", became maid of honour to the Duchess of York
in 1664, and eventually by her second marriage to Richard Talbot became Countess of Tyrconnel. Sarah married John Churchill
, the future Duke of Marlborough, in 1677, and was highly influential during the reign of Queen Anne
.
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...
at various times between 1642 and 1668. He took the Parliamentary side in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He was the father of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
, who was confidant of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.
Jennings succeeded his father, Sir John Jennings, as head of the family in August 1642, and took residence at Sandridge
Sandridge
Sandridge is a small village and civil parish between St Albans and Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom.-Early history:...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. He was also 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,...
(MP) for St Albans
St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)
St Albans is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Established in 1885, it is a county constituency in Hertfordshire, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.From 1554 to 1852 there was a...
in succession to his father in 1642. He fought for the parliamentary cause in the Civil War, and was captured by the Royalists and imprisoned for some time. As a moderate he was secluded from parliament under Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
in December 1648. He was re-elected MP for St Albans in Richard Cromwell's
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
in 1659. He took a leading role in the restored Long Parliament during the few weeks of 1660 when the secluded members resumed their seats, and was then elected MP for St Albans for the Convention Parliament. He was re-elected MP for St Albans in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
and sat until his death in 1668.
Jennings married Frances Thornhurst, daughter and heiress of Sir Gifford Thornhurst, 1st Baronet. She brought with her the manor of Agney, Kent
The manor of Agney, Kent
The manor of Agney was an estate in Old Romney, Kent owned by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral. The estate may have originated in the eighth century and for hundreds of years was leased to members of the same family, including Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough...
. Their daughters, Sarah
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
and Frances, were both noteworthy figures at the court of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. Frances, nicknamed "La Belle Jennings", became maid of honour to the Duchess of York
Anne Hyde
Anne Hyde was the first wife of James, Duke of York , and the mother of two monarchs, Mary II of England and Scotland and Anne of Great Britain....
in 1664, and eventually by her second marriage to Richard Talbot became Countess of Tyrconnel. Sarah married John Churchill
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
, the future Duke of Marlborough, in 1677, and was highly influential during the reign of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.