Richard Cromwell

Richard Cromwell (4 October 1626 – 12 July 1712) was the third son of Oliver Cromwell, and the second Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, for little over eight months, from 3 September 1658 until 25 May 1659. Richard Cromwell's enemies called him Hickory Dick and Queen Dick.

Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
In office 3 September 1658 – 25 May 1659 (264 days)
Preceded by	Oliver Cromwell
Succeeded by	Council of State
Personal details
Born	(1626-10-04)4 October 1626 Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England
Died	12 July 1712(1712-07-12) (aged 85) Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England
Nationality	English
Political party	Roundhead
Spouse(s)	Dorothy Maijor ​ ​ (m. 1649; died 1675)​
Relations	Oliver Cromwell (father) Elizabeth Bourchier (mother)
Children	See list Elizabeth Cromwell (1650–1731) Edward Cromwell (1644–1688) Anne Cromwell (1651–1652) Mary Cromwell (1654) Oliver Cromwell (1656–1705) Dorothy Cromwell (1657–1658) Anna Cromwell Gibson (1659–1727) Dorothy Cromwell Mortimer (1660–1681)
Nickname(s)	Tumbledown Dick Queen Dick

Royal styles of Richard Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth
Reference style	His Highness
Spoken style	Your Highness
Alternative style	Sir

Richard Cromwell was not suited to ruling the country. He followed his father as ruler only because he was Oliver's oldest living son, and people expected one of Oliver's sons to follow him. After a short time, he gave up power and he knew that many of the people wanted King Charles II to come back from Holland and rule the country. When it was agreed that Charles would return, Richard thought it would be best for him to leave Britain, and he went to live in France for a while. He changed his name to "John Clarke" and travelled around Europe, not returning home for twenty years. When he came back, he lived quietly outside London for the rest of his life.

Stories about Richard

The nursery rhyme "Hickory Dickory Dock" is actually about Richard Cromwell.^[1] One of Richard's nicknames was Hickory Dick. The mouse in the rhyme runs down when the clock strikes one and Cromwell only reigned for one year.

References

1. Jack, Albert (2008). Pop Goes the Weasel: The Secret Meanings of Nursery Rhymes. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780141909301.

• Gaunt, Peter (2004). "Richard Cromwell". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6768.
• Hutton, Ronald (1985). The Restoration: A Political and Religious History of England and Wales, 1658-1667. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-822698-5.

Other websites

• BBC Bio of Richard Cromwell
• BBC Bio of Oliver Cromwell Archived 2014-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
• Britannia.com "Monarchs" Page on Richard Cromwell Archived 2011-12-09 at the Wayback Machine

Political offices
Preceded by Oliver Cromwell	Lord Protectorate of England, Scotland and Ireland September 3, 1658-May 25, 1659	Succeeded by King Charles II As King of England, Scotland, Ireland and France.
Preceded by Oliver Cromwell	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1657–1660	Succeeded by Duke of Somerset