Guildford Slingsby

Guildford Slingsby
Born	1610
Died	1643
Allegiance	England
Service/branch	English Army

Guilford Slingsby (1610–1643) was a politician in the Irish Parliament. He was confidential secretary to, and a close personal friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, the Lord Deputy of Ireland. He fought on the Royalist side during the English Civil War, and died of wounds received in battle.

He was the eldest son of Sir Guylford Sligsby, Comptroller of the Navy (died 1631) and Margaret Water or Walter of York. His father was one of the many children of Sir Francis Slingsby and Mary Percy, sister of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland. He grew up at Bifrons in Canterbury, where his father, originally from Scriven, had purchased an estate. He was educated at the University of St Andrews. Several of his younger brothers also achieved a measure of fame, including Sir Robert Slingsby, 1st Baronet, who like his father became Comptroller of the Navy, and was a close friend of Samuel Pepys; and Sir Arthur Slingsby, the first of the Slingsby Baronets of Bifrons.

Slingsby was elected Member of Parliament for Carysfort in the Irish House of Commons in 1634. He later became lieutenant of the ordnance office and vice-admiral of Munster.

About the same time he entered Parliament, he entered the Lord Deputy's household as personal secretary. It is possible that his cousin Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland, who was then one of Strafford's closest friends, recommended him. He proved an excellent secretary and also became a friend. When Strafford was impeached, he asked Slingsby to join him in London, and throughout the trial which ended in Strafford's attainder and execution, Slingsby provided invaluable support, as well as giving evidence on his behalf. There were unconfirmed reports that Slingsby had attempted to arrange Strafford's escape from the Tower of London.

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