Skippon, Philip

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Skippon, Philip (d.1660). Major-general of the infantry in the New Model Army. From a Norfolk gentry family, and a man of puritan piety, Skippon distinguished himself as the leader of the London trained bands, and as commander of the infantry in Essex's army from 1642 to 1644. At Naseby (June 1645) he commanded the New Model foot, and was severely wounded. In the second civil war (1648) he was again put in command of the London militia, and prevented the city from falling into royalist hands, and giving assistance to the royalists in Essex and Kent. Though appointed one of the king's judges, he never attended a session of the High Court of Justice. During the Interregnum he held high office but exercised little political influence. Having acquired confiscated crown, church, and royalist land, he died rich.

Ian Gentles