CR031WELL, HENRY, the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, but the second and youngest that survived him, was born at Huntingdon in January 1627-23. He was educated at Felstead in Essex, and early enrolled in the parliamentary army. In 1649, having become a colonel, he went with his father to Ireland, where he behaved with considerable gallantry. Ile was one of the members for that kingdom in the Bare-Bones Parliament. He married in 1653 a daughter of Sir Francis Russell of Chippenham in Cambridgeshire, and resided at Whitehall until he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, being at the time (1654) a member for the University of Cambridge. During the following year he was again sent to Ireland. It had become absolutely necessary that the estates and property of the natives should be protected from the rapacity of the republican leaders, who were aggrandising themselves at their expense ; and Henry Cromwell was considered a fit person to undertake this task, both on account of his general abilities and the great esteem in which lie was held in that country. Tho expectations of his friends were not disappointed, for the state received considerable benefit from his services as soon as he succeeded Fleetwood in his office. The impossi
bility of procuring money from England, and the limitations of his power, materially diminished his usefulness. At length, from these causes, his government became so irksome to him that his letters are one series of complaints, interspersed with offers to resign. Still further mortification however was in store for him. When his brother Richard became Protector, tho council, over which he had little or no control, contracted still further the power of Henry Crom well, who, in exchange for the title of Lord Deputy, received that of Lord Lieutenant—a miserable recompense for his lost authority.
After the deposition of his brother, Henry Cromwell was desirous of keeping Ireland for the king, and it was not until his submission was forcibly required by the parliament, that his object was finally relinqnished. Henry now retired to Chippenhatn, whence in five or six years he removed to his estate nt Sobam in Cambridgeshire, where he spent the remainder of his days, and died at the age of forty-six (1673-74). Henry Cromwell had five sous and two daughters : one of his children died young: the rest survived him.