Ralph Hopton

Born: 1596, Witham, Somerset Died: September 1652, Bruges Allegiance: Royalist Position: Baron of Stratton

In 1624 he became MP for Wells, but joined the royalist cause when war broke out.

Hopton raised an army in Cornwall, and went on to take most of Devon in 1643. He then fought Sir William Waller to a standstill at Lansdown, but was badly injured by a powder explosion after the battle. He remained in Devizes for most of the battle of Roundway Down, which was fought to relieve his forces from siege. Hopton was made Baron of Stratton in September of 1643.

He became commander of the royalist army in 1646, but by then there was nothing he could do to beat the parliamentarians. He surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax later that year.

After the wars he remained in exile until his death.