John Lambert (general)
John Lambert (general) (1619 – March 1684) was an English Parliamentary general and politician during the English Civil War and the Interregnum. He was a prominent figure in the New Model Army and played a key role in the establishment of the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.
Lambert was born in Kirkby Malhamdale, Yorkshire. He initially supported the Parliamentarian cause at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving as a captain in Lord Fairfax's army. He quickly demonstrated military talent and rose through the ranks.
He was instrumental in the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Naseby in 1645 and played a significant part in the subsequent defeat of the Royalist forces in the north of England. By the late 1640s, he had become a major-general.
Lambert was a key player in the Second English Civil War, suppressing Royalist uprisings and contributing to the defeat of the Scottish army at the Battle of Preston in 1648. He was a strong advocate for the execution of King Charles I.
During the Interregnum, Lambert was a powerful figure in the Council of State. He was involved in the drafting of the Instrument of Government, which established the Protectorate. He served as a major-general in the Cromwellian army and held significant political influence. He was also instrumental in suppressing Royalist and Leveller challenges to the Protectorate.
After Oliver Cromwell's death in 1658, Lambert became a leading contender for power. He opposed the succession of Richard Cromwell and played a central role in the latter's removal from office. Lambert attempted to establish a new government, but his ambitions were thwarted by General George Monck, who facilitated the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
Following the Restoration, Lambert was arrested and tried for treason. He was convicted and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He spent the remainder of his life in prison, first on Guernsey and then on Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound, where he died in March 1684.