Arthur Haselrigg

Born: Died: 1661, London Allegiance: Parliamentarian Position: General of Horse, William Waller's Army

Sir Arthur Haselrigg was the brother-in-law of Lord Brooke, and was a staunch Puritan and supporter of Parliament.

Haselrigg was MP for Leicestershire before the outbreak of hostilities. He played an active part in Parliament, presenting a bill on 7 Dec 1641 suggesting that all military and naval appointments come under the direct control of Parliament. The bill was passed on its first reading by 158 votes to 125.

So active was Haselrigg in Parliament, that he was one of the individuals accused of treason by Charles I. He escaped from Parliament with his colleagues before the King could arrest them on 4 Jan 1642.

Haselrigg raised his own cavalry regiment - equiping them with curaisser armour at his own expense. His heavy cavalry were nicknamed "The Lobsters" by the Royalists due to their shiny "shell" of armour. Their regimental jackets were blue.

Haselrigg fought at Edgehill under the Earl of Essex. He then became General of Horse for William Waller from 1643 to 1645. During this period his regiment were badly beaten at Roundway Down. Haselrigg himself was set upon, receiving 3 pistol shots at close range and several cuts by sword. His armour sustained him, though, and Charles I later joked:

Haselrigg served under Cromwell from 1645 to 1650, spending a large part of this time garrisoned at Newcastle.

Being a Republican, Haselrigg fell out with Cromwell as he became increasingly tyrannical. Despite this, Haselrigg outlived Cromwell, but was imprisoned in 1660. Haselrigg died in the Tower of London the following year.