Robert Lilburne
Colonel Robert Lilburne | |
|---|---|
Colonel Robert Lilburne | |
| Governor of York | |
| In office 1654–1660 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1614 (baptised) Auckland, County Durham |
| Died | August 1665 St Nicholas Island, Plymouth (prison) |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse | Margaret Beck |
| Children | Robert, Richard, Ephraim |
| Occupation | Parliamentarian soldier |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
Robert Lilburne (1613–1665) is most notable as the elder brother of radical Leveller agitator John Lilburne. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, when the English Parliament fought against King Charles I, he had a distinguished military career as a colonel in the Parliamentarian armies; he was most prominent during the Second English Civil War in Scotland, as an officer of Oliver Cromwell in the New Model Army. Under Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector, he was elected as an MP to all three Protectorate Parliaments and raised to the rank of deputy major-general. In 1660 he took arms to resist the restoration of the monarchy.
In January 1649, he was a signatory to the death warrant of King Charles I, for which he was tried and convicted of treason as a regicide in October 1660. He died in prison in August 1665.