Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

The Right Honourable The Earl of Strafford KG, JP, PC
Portrait by Anthony van Dyck, 1639
Lord Deputy of Ireland
In office 1632–1640
Vice-admiral of Munster
In office 1634–1640
Custos Rotulorum of the West Riding of Yorkshire
In office 1630–1641
President, Council of the North
In office 1628–1641
Member of Parliament for Yorkshire 1614–1621; 1625
In office March 1628 – July 1628
Member of Parliament for Pontefract
In office January 1624 – February 1624
Personal details
Born	13 April 1593 Chancery Lane, London
Died	12 May 1641(1641-05-12) (aged 48) Tower Hill
Cause of death	Execution
Resting place	Wentworth, South Yorkshire
Spouses	Margaret Clifford ​ ​ (m. 1611; died 1622)​ Arabella Holles ​ ​ (m. 1625; died 1631)​ Elizabeth Rhodes ​ ​ (m. 1632⁠–⁠1641)​
Children	William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford Anne Arabella Thomas Margaret
Parents	William Wentworth (father) Anne Atkins (mother)
Alma mater	St John's College, Cambridge
Signature

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, KG (13 April 1593 (N.S.) – 12 May 1641), was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1640 he was Lord Deputy of Ireland, where he established a strong authoritarian rule. Recalled to England, he became a leading advisor to the King, attempting to strengthen the royal position against Parliament. When Parliament condemned Lord Strafford to death, Charles reluctantly signed the death warrant and Strafford was executed.^[1] He had been advanced several times in the Peerage of England during his career, being created 1st Baron Wentworth in 1628,^[2][3] 1st Viscount Wentworth in late 1628 or early 1629, and, finally, 1st Earl of Strafford in January 1640.^[2][4] He was known as Sir Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baronet, between 1614 and 1628.