Siege of Hull (1642)

The Siege of Hull (1642) was a significant early engagement in the First English Civil War. It occurred in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, between July 2nd and July 27th, 1642. The siege pitted the Royalist forces, led by King Charles I, against the Parliamentarian garrison commanded by Sir John Hotham, the Governor of Hull.

Hull was strategically vital due to its large arsenal, holding significant stores of arms and ammunition that both sides desperately needed to equip their armies. In April 1642, Charles I attempted to enter Hull and secure the arsenal but was denied entry by Hotham. This act of defiance marked a significant escalation in the conflict between the King and Parliament.

Following the failure to gain entry in April, Charles I returned in July with a larger force, formally besieging the town. The Royalists aimed to starve the garrison into submission or force a surrender. However, Hotham, with the support of a determined Parliamentarian garrison and the townspeople, resisted the siege.

The Royalist forces were relatively ill-equipped for a prolonged siege. They lacked heavy artillery and a robust supply chain. The Parliamentarians, on the other hand, were able to receive supplies and reinforcements by sea, thanks to the Royal Navy’s control of the English Channel.

After nearly a month of unsuccessful attempts to breach the walls or compel a surrender, Charles I lifted the siege on July 27th, 1642. The failure to capture Hull was a significant setback for the Royalist cause. It allowed Parliament to secure a vital strategic location and access to much-needed weaponry. Furthermore, it bolstered the Parliamentarian cause by demonstrating the King's inability to command obedience even in his own realm, and emboldened further resistance against Royal authority. The Siege of Hull is considered one of the key events that triggered the outbreak of open warfare in the First English Civil War.