Francis Godolphin (1605–1667)

For other people named Francis Godolphin, see Francis Godolphin (disambiguation).
Sir Francis Godolphin of Godolphin

Sir Francis Godolphin KB (25 December 1605 – 22 March 1667), of Godolphin in Cornwall, was an English Member of Parliament. His chief claim to fame is that he was the dedicatee of Hobbes' Leviathan.

Origins

Godolphin was the eldest son of Sir William Godolphin and brother of the poet Sidney Godolphin, both of whom were also members of Parliament. He succeeded his father in 1613, inheriting estates which included the lease of the Scilly Isles.

Career

He represented Helston in the Parliament of 1625-6, again in the Long Parliament and was appointed High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1638.

Being a Royalist, when the Civil War broke out he returned to Cornwall, where he secured the Scilly Isles for the King and raised a regiment of which his brother, William, took command. In consequence, he was disbarred from sitting in Parliament in January 1644, and his estates were sequestered. However, after the capture of the King he negotiated an honourable capitulation of the Scilly Isles to Parliament, the House of Commons voting "that Mr Godolphin, governor of Scilly, upon his surrender of that island, with all forts &c, should enjoy his estate and be free from arrest for any acts of war".

He was elected once more for Helston in the Convention Parliament of 1660, and following the Restoration he was knighted at Charles II's coronation. He died in 1667.

Marriage & progeny

Sir Francis married Dorothy Berkeley, daughter of Sir Henry Berkeley of Yarlington in Somerset, by whom he had numerous children, including:

Footnotes

  1. Inscription on ledger stone, King's Nympton Church, Devon

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by
Francis Carew
Thomas Carew
Member of Parliament for Helston
1625–1626
With: Francis Carew
Succeeded by
Sidney Godolphin
William Noy
Preceded by
Sidney Godolphin
William Godolphin
Member of Parliament for Helston
1640–1644
With: Sidney Godolphin 1640-1643
Second seat vacant 1643-1644
Succeeded by
John Penrose
John Thomas
Preceded by
Anthony Rous
Alexander Penhellick
Member of Parliament for Helston
1660–1661
With: Thomas Robinson
Succeeded by
Thomas Robinson
Sir Peter Killigrew
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sidney Godolphin
Governor of the Isles of Scilly
1643−1667
Succeeded by
Sidney Godolphin
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