Edmund Ludlow

Edmund Ludlow 1617?-1692, English parliamentarian and regicide. He commanded a regiment of cavalry in the English civil war and served on the court that condemned King Charles I, signing his death warrant. In 1651-52 he was assistant and then successor to Henry Ireton in the subjugation of Ireland. He sympathized with the republican Puritans and opposed the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard and likewise the restoration of Charles II. After the Restoration (1660) he fled to Switzerland. He returned to England briefly in 1689, meeting with survivors of the republican party, but the government issued a warrant for his arrest, and he returned to Switzerland.

Bibliography: See his memoirs (ed. by C. H. Firth, 1894).

Ludlow, Edmund (c.1617–92). Ludlow was one of a group of austere republicans that included Vane and Haselrig. Ludlow joined Essex's army in 1642 and fought throughout the war, mainly in Haselrig's cavalry. Returned for Wiltshire in 1646, he signed the king's death warrant in 1649. In 1651–5 he served in Ireland, though disapproving Cromwell's Protectorate. Returning to Parliament in 1659, he opposed Richard Cromwell and, after his fall, joined Haselrig in the Council of State. At the Restoration in 1660 he escaped to the continent. In 1689 he misjudged the situation in England, returned to London, and was obliged to flee again when a proclamation was issued for his arrest.

Ludlow, Edmund (c.1617–92). Ludlow was one of a group of austere republicans that included Vane and Haselrig. His father Sir Henry Ludlow, a Wiltshire landowner, represented the county in the Long Parliament and was a fierce opponent of the king's policies. Ludlow himself joined Essex's army in 1642 and fought throughout the war, mainly in Haselrig's cavalry. Returned for Wiltshire in 1646, he signed the king's death warrant in 1649. In 1651–5 he served in Ireland, though disapproving Cromwell's Protectorate. Returning to Parliament in 1659, he opposed Richard Cromwell and, after his fall, joined Haselrig in the Council of State. He was about to join Lambert's rising when it collapsed and at the Restoration in 1660 he escaped to the continent. Charles II's supporters hunted for him with considerable zeal. He took refuge in Switzerland and survived plots against his life. In 1689 he misjudged the situation in England, returned to London, and was obliged to flee again when a proclamation was issued for his arrest. His memoirs, first issued in 1698/9, are an important source for the Commonwealth period.

J. A. Cannon