Thomas Kelsey
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kelsey rose from obscurity as a "London
tradesman" to become an important figure in the government of Oliver Cromwell
.
Kelsey enlisted in the New Model Army
and fought on the side of Parliament during the English Civil War
, displaying a zeal that led him to become a Major-General in 1645. He was became a Lieutenant-Colonel in Colonel Ingoldsby's regiment from 1646. After the war he was elected as Deputy-Governor of Oxford
, and in 1651 he was further appointed a Lieutenant of Dover Castle
.
As a member of the 'fifth Monarchist congregation
' in London, led by John Simpson, during the early 1650s, he supported Oliver Cromwell in the establishment of the Protectorate and was elected MP for Sandwich
in Kent for the First Protectorate Parliament
, and was appointed the Major-General for Surrey
and Kent
during the Rule of the Major-Generals
.
Thomas Kelsey was returned for Dover during the Second Protectorate Parliament, when he supported John Desborough
's move to establish the Major-Generals as a permanent form of government.
After the collapse of the Protectorate in 1659, Thomas Kelsey supported John Lambert
's attempts to resist the Restoration
. Major-General Kelsey was deprived of his commands under the recalled Rump Parliament
(Jan 1660), and was ordered to leave London. With the return of King Charles II
in May 1660, Kelsey felt safer removing himself to the Netherlands
, but with others including John Desborough was instructed to return to England in 1666.
Thereafter little more is known of his life, except that it has been suggested he turned his skills to becoming a brewer, and that he died around 1680.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
tradesman" to become an important figure in the government of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
.
Kelsey enlisted in the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
and fought on the side of Parliament 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...
, displaying a zeal that led him to become a Major-General in 1645. He was became a Lieutenant-Colonel in Colonel Ingoldsby's regiment from 1646. After the war he was elected as Deputy-Governor of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and in 1651 he was further appointed a Lieutenant of Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
.
As a member of the 'fifth Monarchist congregation
Fifth Monarchists
The Fifth Monarchists or Fifth Monarchy Men were active from 1649 to 1661 during the Interregnum, following the English Civil Wars of the 17th century. They took their name from a prophecy in the Book of Daniel that four ancient monarchies would precede Christ's return...
' in London, led by John Simpson, during the early 1650s, he supported Oliver Cromwell in the establishment of the Protectorate and was elected MP for Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
in Kent for the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
, and was appointed the Major-General for Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
during the Rule of the Major-Generals
Rule of the Major-Generals
The Rule of the Major-Generals from August 1655 – January 1657, was a period of direct military government during Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate.England was divided into 10 regions each governed by a Major-General who answered to the Lord Protector....
.
Thomas Kelsey was returned for Dover during the Second Protectorate Parliament, when he supported John Desborough
John Desborough
John Desborough was an English soldier and politician who supported the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.-Life:He was the son of James Desborough of Eltisley, Cambridgeshire, and of Elizabeth Hatley of Over in the same county, was baptized on 13 November 1608. He was educated for...
's move to establish the Major-Generals as a permanent form of government.
After the collapse of the Protectorate in 1659, Thomas Kelsey supported John Lambert
John Lambert
John Lambert may refer to:*John Lambert , English Protestant martyred during the reign of Henry VIII*John Lambert , Parliamentary general in the English Civil War...
's attempts to resist 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...
. Major-General Kelsey was deprived of his commands under the recalled Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
(Jan 1660), and was ordered to leave London. With the return of King 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...
in May 1660, Kelsey felt safer removing himself to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, but with others including John Desborough was instructed to return to England in 1666.
Thereafter little more is known of his life, except that it has been suggested he turned his skills to becoming a brewer, and that he died around 1680.