William Lenthall

William Lenthall
Speaker of the House of Commons
In office 26 December 1659[1] – 16 March 1660[1]
Monarch	(Interregnum)
Preceded by	William Say (temporary)
Succeeded by	Sir Harbottle Grimston
In office 7 May 1659[1] – 13 October 1659[1]
Monarch	(Interregnum)
Preceded by	Thomas Bampfylde
Succeeded by	William Say (temporary during Lenthall's illness)
In office 4 September 1654[1] – 22 January 1655[1]
Monarch	(Interregnum)
Preceded by	The Rev. Francis Rous
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Widdrington
In office 6 August 1647[1] – 20 April 1653[1]
Monarch	Charles I / (Interregnum)
Preceded by	Henry Pelham (temporary)
Succeeded by	The Rev. Francis Rous
In office 3 November 1640[1] – 30 July 1647[1]
Monarch	Charles I
Preceded by	Sir John Glanville
Succeeded by	Henry Pelham (temporary, during Lenthall's abandonment of the Speakership)
Master of the Rolls
In office 1643[1]–1660[1]
Monarch	Charles I / (Interregnum)
Commissioner of the Great Seal
In office 1646[1]–1648[1]
Monarch	Charles I
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 1645[1]–1648[1]
Monarch	Charles I
Personal details
Born	1591[1] Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire
Died	3 September 1662[1]
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Evans, by 1619[1]
Children	at least 2 sons and 2 daughters[1]
Education	St Alban Hall University of Oxford, Lincoln's Inn

William Lenthall (1591–1662) was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons for a period of almost twenty years, both before and after the execution of King Charles I.

He is best remembered for his defiance of the king on 4 January 1642 when Charles entered the chamber of the House of Commons, supported by 400 armed men, in an attempt to seize five members whom he accused of treason. When Charles asked Lenthall where the five were, Lenthall famously replied "I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this House is pleased to direct me". It was the first time in English history that a speaker of the House of Commons had declared his allegiance to the liberty of parliament rather than the will of the monarch.