Fleetwood, Charles

Related Category: British and Irish History: Biographies

1618?–1692, English parliamentary general. He fought under Oliver Cromwell in many battles of the English civil war and later (1650) in Scotland. He became (1651) a member of the council of state and married (1652) Bridget, daughter of Cromwell and widow of Henry Ireton. He succeeded Ireton as commander in chief in Ireland (1652–55) and continued Ireton's work in directing the settlement of English soldiers on lands confiscated from Irish landholders. As ranking military officer under Richard Cromwell, he led (1659) the army coup that forced the protector to dissolve Parliament. At the Restoration (1660) he was barred from holding further public office.