25 Facts About James Temple

James Temple gained military experience as a member of the Duke of Buckingham's expedition to the Isle of Re in 1627.

James Temple rose to become a colonel and commanded Tilbury Fort, an important defensive position on the approach to London by river.

James Temple sided with the army in opposing any compromise with the King, and survived Pride's purge.

James Temple was appointed as a judge at the trial of King Charles I of England.

James Temple attended most of the court sessions and was the 28th to sign the King's death warrant.

James Temple was born to Sir Alexander James Temple and Mary Sommer while his parents were living in the parish of St Margaret's in Rochester, Kent in the house previously owned by his mother's first husband.

James Temple's family was closely related to the Temple family of Stowe House.

James Temple's uncles included Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet, of Stowe and William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele.

James Temple was allowed to take a servant with him, but he was strictly forbidden to visit Rome.

When his father died in 1629, James Temple was the main beneficiary of his father's estate.

Margaret Longville, Temple's cousin, wrote to her mother, "my cousin Cary Saunders is broke for forty thousand pounds and is not able to pay five shillings in the pound and James Temple is in too much".

James Temple, like most members of his family, was a puritan and supported Parliament against the King.

James Temple was appointed captain of a troop of horse raised by Lord Saye and Sele and commanded by Temple's cousin, John Fiennes.

James Temple was related to Oliver Cromwell via his kinsman Edward Whalley and was able to secure a commission for Whalley in his uncle's unit.

James Temple belonged to the political and religious group known as Independents who were opposed to any compromise in Parliament's negotiations with the King.

James Temple was one of the judges named to the High Court of Justice that conducted the trial.

James Temple attended nine sessions of the court in both the Painted Chamber and Westminster Hall.

James Temple attracted a number of other accusations of financial impropriety, although apparently nothing was proved.

James Temple "threw them on the ground and spurned them with his foot".

In 1649, James Temple became the guardian of the daughter of one Mrs Eyre.

James Temple apparently "inveigled" her to marry his son, Alexander.

James Temple was held in the Tower of London before being tried as a regicide.

James Temple tried to avoid the death penalty by saying that he had only acted as a judge in Charles I's trial in order to give information to the Royalists.

James Temple went on to claim that he had tried to prevent the King's execution, begging Oliver Cromwell to spare him.

James Temple did avoid execution and was sentenced to life imprisonment.