English Aristocracy. First Earl of Rochester. Born the third son of Charles Wilmot, 1st Viscount Wilmot and Sarah Anderson. He was a participant in the the army plot of 1641 against Parliament, after which he was committed to the Tower and expelled from Parliament. During the English Civil War, Wilmot served the Royalist cause, a veteran of the Dutch Army; he served as an officer in Charles' cavalry. He led the victorious forces against Sir William Waller at the Battle of Roundway Down 1643 and at the last Royalist victory at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, June 1644. For his service he was created Baron Wilmot of Adderbury. Political enemies conspired to deprive him of his command, however, and Wilmot left England to join the Queen in exile in France. During the period the English court spent in exile, he served as a gentleman of the bedchamber and one of the principal advisers for Charles II. The king created him the first Earl of Rochester in 1652. In March 1655 he returned to England to lead a Royalist rising at Marston Moor near York. When the uprising was put down by the Governor of York, Wilmot fled England once again. He obtained command of a foot regiment of English in the Royalist army in Bruges, present day Belgium, becoming the first colonel of the Grenedier Guards, but camp conditions led to widespread illness among the unit. Wilmot died at age 44 in Sluys and was buried at Bruges. After the restoration of the monarchy, his body was removed to the family vault at All Saints Church, Oxfordshire.
English Aristocracy. First Earl of Rochester. Born the third son of Charles Wilmot, 1st Viscount Wilmot and Sarah Anderson. He was a participant in the the army plot of 1641 against Parliament, after which he was committed to the Tower and expelled from Parliament. During the English Civil War, Wilmot served the Royalist cause, a veteran of the Dutch Army; he served as an officer in Charles' cavalry. He led the victorious forces against Sir William Waller at the Battle of Roundway Down 1643 and at the last Royalist victory at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, June 1644. For his service he was created Baron Wilmot of Adderbury. Political enemies conspired to deprive him of his command, however, and Wilmot left England to join the Queen in exile in France. During the period the English court spent in exile, he served as a gentleman of the bedchamber and one of the principal advisers for Charles II. The king created him the first Earl of Rochester in 1652. In March 1655 he returned to England to lead a Royalist rising at Marston Moor near York. When the uprising was put down by the Governor of York, Wilmot fled England once again. He obtained command of a foot regiment of English in the Royalist army in Bruges, present day Belgium, becoming the first colonel of the Grenedier Guards, but camp conditions led to widespread illness among the unit. Wilmot died at age 44 in Sluys and was buried at Bruges. After the restoration of the monarchy, his body was removed to the family vault at All Saints Church, Oxfordshire.
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