Thomas Blagge

Colonel Thomas Blagge (1613 – 14 November 1660) was an English soldier, a supporter of Charles I in the English Civil War.

Colonel Thomas Blagge by English School now owned by the UK national trust

Life

He came from Horningsheath, Suffolk, and was Groom of the Chamber to Charles I. From 1642 he was Governor of Wallingford Castle, and commanded a foot regiment of 1000 men. He fought against various Roundhead commanders including Lawrence Crawford and Richard Baxter. In 1646 he was the last to surrender a major English stronghold to Oliver Cromwell's forces, following a siege of the castle by Sir Thomas Fairfax. He refused to give in until he had the permission of Charles I. He was a supporter of Charles II, fighting at the battle of Worcester in 1651 and was made Governor of Yarmouth but died 6 months after the Restoration. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. His daughter Margaret Blagge married the politician Sidney Godolphin and she was the subject of a book by John Evelyn entitled The Life of Mrs Godolphin.

References
  • Dewey, J. and Dewey, S. (1996) Wallingford and the Civil War, Pie Powder Press, ISBN 0-948598-09-3
  • Griffin, S. (2000) Wallingford in the English civil war, 1642-1646, Bristol : Stuart Press, Invalid ISBN, 28 p.
  • Hedges, J.K. (1881) The history of Wallingford, in the county of Berks. London : Wm Clowes, 2 vol.
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