Henry Pelham (Speaker)

Henry Pelham (fl. 1640s) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1648. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons for a short time in 1647.

Pelham was the son of Sir William Pelham , of Brocklesby, Lincolnshire. He matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge at Easter 1615 and was admitted at Gray's Inn on 6 November 1616.[1]

Pelham was elected Member of Parliament for Grimsby in 1621 and was re-elected in 1625, 1626 and 1628. He sat until 1629, when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.[2]

In Aptil 1640, Pelham was elected MP for Grantham in the Short Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Grantham for the Long Parliament in November 1640.[2] He was Grand Chamberlain from 1640 to 1648. He held the post of Speaker for a short time in 1647, when William Lenthall temporarily fled from London.

Pelham was Recorder of Lincoln until his resignation in 1658.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Pelham, Henry in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
  2. ^ a b Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239
Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir Christopher Wray
Sir John Wray		 Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby
1621-1629
With: Sir Christopher Wray 1621-1625
William Skinner 1626
Sir Christopher Wray 1628-1629		 Succeeded by
Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by
Parliament suspended since 1629		 Member of Parliament for Grantham
1640-1648
With: Sir Edward Bashe 1640
Thomas Hussey 1640-1641
Sir William Airmine 1642-1648		 Succeeded by
Sir William Airmine