Michael Jones (soldier)

Lieutenant-General Michael Jones (died December 1649) was an Irish soldier who fought for King Charles I during the Irish Confederate War but joined the English Parliamentary side when the English Civil War started. He is noted for his victories at the Battle of Dungans Hill and the Battle of Rathmines, which facilitated the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

The son of Lewis Jones (1560–1646), a Welshman who settled in Ireland, becoming Bishop of Killaloe, the young Jones was a student at Lincoln's Inn when the Civil War began. After fighting for the Crown during the early part of the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

After the cessation of hostilities in Ireland in 1643 the extreme party among the Irish Protestants determined to send Jones and other representatives to press their views on the king during the negotiations for the treaty with the Irish rebels, which were to take place at Oxford in the spring of 1644. Carte prints a speech which Jones addressed to Ormonde on behalf of his fellow-commissioners. Finding, however, that he would be expected to bring over his company to join the Royalis army in England, Jones declined to act, and shortly afterwards entered the service of Parliament.

Jones speedily distinguished himself as a cavalry leader. He took part in the defeats of the royalists at Tarvin (21 August 1644), at Malpas (26 August 1644), and in the repulse of John, Lord Byron's attempt to relieve Beeston Castle on 18 January 1645. On 18 September 1645 Jones, together with Adjutant-general Lowthian, stormed the suburbs of Chester, and six days later helped Poyntz to gain a victory at the Battle of Rowton Heath. On 1 November 1645 Colonels Jones and Thomas Mytton defeated at Denbigh the troops which Sir William Vaughan had collected for the relief of Chester, and in December Jones routed another relieving force at Holt-bridge, and captured its commander, Sir William Byron. On 6 February 1646 the surrender of Chester, Jones was appointed governor of the city by Parliament.

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