Francis Pierrepont (Roundhead)

Francis Pierrepont (c. 1605 – 1659) was an English politician and military figure who served as a prominent Parliamentarian (Roundhead) during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.

Born into the influential Pierrepont family of Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire, Francis Pierrepont actively supported the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I. He was the second son of Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull and Gertrude Talbot. His elder brother, Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester, sided with the Royalists, creating a deep division within the family based on political allegiance.

Pierrepont played a significant role in the military and political administration of the Midlands, particularly Nottinghamshire. He served on various committees charged with raising money, organizing the militia, and administering justice in the Parliamentarian-controlled areas. He was a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the Long Parliament, though he was excluded during Pride's Purge in 1648, reflecting the evolving power dynamics within the Parliamentarian faction. He was, however, re-admitted in 1649 after the execution of Charles I.

Following the execution of the King and the establishment of the Commonwealth, Pierrepont continued to hold positions of authority. He served on the Council of State and was involved in the administration of the newly formed republic. Although he initially supported Oliver Cromwell, he later opposed Cromwell's increasingly autocratic rule as Lord Protector. He was a key figure in the attempts to establish a more stable and representative government after Cromwell's death in 1658.

Francis Pierrepont's involvement in the tumultuous events of the English Civil War and Interregnum highlights the complex political landscape of the era and the divisions within English society. He remained a staunch Parliamentarian throughout his life, committed to the principles of limited monarchy and parliamentary governance.