Henry Hyde (Royalist)

Henry Hyde (1609-1650) was an English Royalist politician and lawyer, notable for his unwavering loyalty to King Charles I during the English Civil War and Interregnum. A member of Parliament representing Christchurch, Hyde distinguished himself as a strong defender of the monarchy against the increasing power of Parliament. He vehemently opposed the attainder of the Earl of Strafford and actively supported the King's cause as the conflict escalated.

With the outbreak of the First English Civil War, Hyde joined the King at Oxford, serving as a member of the Royalist Parliament convened there. Following the Royalist defeat in the First Civil War, Hyde initially went into exile on the Continent. However, his commitment to the Stuart cause led him to return to England secretly to support the planned Royalist uprisings in 1650. He was arrested in Hampshire shortly thereafter and tried for treason under the Commonwealth government.

Despite a valiant defense, Hyde was convicted and executed by beheading in 1650. He became a martyr for the Royalist cause, remembered for his courage and steadfast adherence to his principles. He was the uncle of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, a significant figure in the Restoration government.