Richard Cromwell Facts & Worksheets

Short-Lived Reign

• Richard Cromwell's reign as Lord Protector was short-lived and filled with challenges. He faced difficulties in maintaining control and opposition from various factions within the government and military. Unlike his father, Richard did not have a military background and was seen as largely politically inexperienced.
• Richard encountered two pressing issues during his reign:
  • The army scrutinising his authority as commander due to his little military background, and
  • The regime's precarious financial situation with a debt amounting to an estimated £2 million.
• The Privy Council of Richard made the decision to convene a parliament on 29 November 1658 in order to discuss and resolve the financial issues. This decision was officially ratified on 3 December 1658. 
• The Third Protectorate Parliament was convened on 27 January 1659, with a majority of moderate Presbyterians, crypto-royalists, and a minority of Republicans. The 'Other House' of Parliament, which was created under the Humble Petition and Advice Act to serve as a counterbalance to the Commons, was also reinstated.
• Republican dissidents raised concerns about the insufficiency of the members in this higher legislative body, specifically its military representation, and whether it reflected the decline of the Protectorate regime as a whole and its deviation from the original purpose for which parliamentarians had fought in the civil war.
• The officers of the New Model Army grew increasingly cautious about the government's dedication to the military cause, as the new Parliament appeared to lack regard for the army. The army then sought to assert its power under the direction of General George Monck because it was dissatisfied with Richard's leadership.
• On 6 April 1659, a petition expressing concerns about potential military budget reductions in Parliament was presented to Richard, who then promptly delivered it to Parliament two days later. Nevertheless, Parliament disregarded the army's recommendations and further intensified their distrust of the military by initiating impeachment proceedings against William Boteler. Boteler was accused of mistreating a royalist prisoner during his tenure as a major-general under Oliver Cromwell in 1655.
• The ultimate division between the army and the Parliament, which was under civilian control, resulted from these overt challenges to the military's reputation. This division eventually led to the dissolution of Parliament and Richard's eventual loss of power. 
• In the same month, Richard declined a proposal of military support from the French envoy, maybe due to his confinement by the troops. On 25 May, following Rump's agreement to settle his debts and grant him a pension, Richard submitted a formal letter resigning from the position of Lord Protector. His reign came to an end after only less than a year in power.

Exile and Final Years

• During a period of political turmoil in 1659, there were rumours circulating that Richard, who held the position of Protector, might be called back from his role. Nevertheless, these rumours were baseless, and Richard departed for France in July 1660, where he assumed many aliases, such as John Clarke.
• With the dissolution of the Protectorate, Richard inherited substantial debts from his father's administration. Although the Rump Parliament's settlement offered some financial relief, it was obvious that his life was about to take a turn for the worse. In the aftermath of his resignation, Richard chose to live a quiet life away from the political tumult that had defined his time as Lord Protector. Subsequently, he embarked on a journey across Europe, where he visited different European royal households.
• While in self-imposed exile, he corresponded with his family in England by writing letters, which are currently preserved in the Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies. Despite his hope to find solace and peace in the countryside, his financial troubles persisted, and he struggled to maintain his family's former lifestyle. He spent his final years grappling with the challenges of debt and social isolation. He arrived back in England in either 1680 or 1681 and stayed with the merchant Thomas Pengelly in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
• Richard passed away at the age of 85 on 12 July 1712. His remains were brought back to Hursley and laid to rest in a burial chamber beneath All Saints' Parish Church. He held the record for being the British head of state with the longest lifespan in the past 300 years, surpassing both George III and Queen Victoria. His death marked the end of a tumultuous and ultimately tragic chapter in the history of the Cromwell family.