Thomas Pride

General Sir Thomas Pride (died 23 October 1658) was a parliamentarian commander in the Civil War, best known as one of the Regicides of King Charles I and as the instigator of "Pride's Purge".

Origins

Pride is stated to have been brought up by the parish of St Bride's, London but is thought to have been born in Somerset.

Early career

He commenced his adult life as a drayman and a brewer. At the beginning of the Civil War he served as a captain in the New Model Army under Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex and was eventually promoted to the rank of colonel. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Preston in 1648 and with his regiment took part in the military occupation of London in December 1648, which was the first step towards bringing to trial of King Charles I (1625-1649).

Trial of King Charles I

The next step was the expulsion of the Presbyterian and Royalist elements in the House of Commons, who were thought to be prepared to reach a settlement with Charles. This, resolved by the army council and ordered by the lord general, Fairfax, was carried out by Colonel Pride's regiment. Taking his stand at the entrance of the House of Commons with a written list in his hand, he caused the arrest or exclusion of the members, who were pointed out to him. After about a hundred members had been thus dealt with, the reduced House of Commons, now reduced to about eighty in number, proceeded to bring the king to trial. This marked the end of the Long Parliament and the beginning of the Rump Parliament.

Thomas Pride (VC)

Thomas Pride VC (29 March 1835 – 16 July 1893) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a serviceman in the British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Pride was 29 years old, and a captain of the after guard in the Royal Navy during the Shimonoseki Expedition, Japan when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 September 1864 at Shimonoseki, Japan, Captain of the After Guard Pride was one of the two colour sergeants who accompanied Midshipman Duncan Gordon Boyes from HMS Euryalus when they carried the Queen's Colour into action in the capture of the enemy's stockade. They kept the flag flying in spite of the fierce fire which killed the other colour sergeant and severely wounded Pride. He and the midshipman, however, did not falter and were only finally prevented from going further forward by direct orders from their superior officer.

The medal

Thomas Pride (cricketer)

Thomas Pride (23 July 1864 – 16 February 1919) was an English first-class cricketer, who played one match for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1887, in a drawn game against Sussex at the County Cricket Ground, Hove.

Born in York, England, Pride was a wicket-keeper, who took four catches and completed three stumpings in his only appearance, although he only scored one run in his solitary innings, batting right-handed.

Around 1887, Pride went to Edinburgh Presbyterian College to qualify as a schoolmaster, and eventually became head of Canonbie School. He played for Perthshire, and also for Scotland from 1890 to 1894. In 1894, at Beverley, East Yorkshire, he scored 201 for York C.C., then a record for the ground. He also played for Castle Burton C.C. in the North Yorkshire and Durham League.

He died in February 1919 in Canonbie, Dumfries, Scotland.

References

External links

Thomas Pride (disambiguation)

Thomas Pride (died 1658) was a parliamentarian general in the English Civil War.

Thomas Pride may also refer to: