LUDLOW, EDMUND (c. 1617-1692), English parlia mentarian, son of Sir Henry Ludlow of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. He went to Trinity college, Oxford, and was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1638. When the Great Rebellion broke out, he engaged as a volunteer in the life guard of Lord Essex and served through successive campaigns until 1646, when he was elected M.P. for Wilts in the room of his father and attached himself to the republican party. He was one of the chief pro moters of Pride's Purge in 1648, was one of the king's judges, and signed the warrant for his execution. In February he joined the council of state. In January 1651 Ludlow was sent into Ireland as lieutenant-general of horse, holding also a civil com mission. Ireton, the deputy of Ireland, died on Nov. 26, 1651; Ludlow then held the chief command, and had practically com pleted the conquest of the island when he resigned his authority to Fleetwood in October 1652. On returning to England in Octo ber 1655 he was arrested, as he refused to acknowledge Crom well's authority as Protector, but he was allowed to retire to Essex. Ludlow sat in Richard's parliament of 1659, but opposed the continuance of the Protectorate. He was a member of the re
stored Rump, and of its council of state and of the committee of safety after its second expulsion, and a commissioner for the nomination of officers in the army. In July he was sent to Ireland as a commander-in-chief. He came back to England in January 166o, and was met by an impeachment presented against him to the restored parliament. Ludlow surrendered to the speaker on June 20, but, finding that his life was not assured, although he was not named for capital punishment, he escaped to Switzerland, where he lived at Vevey. After 3o years he came to England but was forced to return to Vevey, where he died in 1692.