Thomas Lunsford

Sir Thomas Lunsford (ca. 1611–1656) was a Royalist colonel and Cavalier in the English Civil War.

In 1633, Lunsford fired upon Sir Thomas Pelham as he stood in the doorway of East Hoathly church in an apparent assassination attempt. He was indicted and sent to Newgate prison, which he escaped and fled to the continent. In his absence, Lunsford was fined £8,000 and outlawed for failing to appear in the Court of Star Chamber. Whilst outlawed, Lunsford joined the French army and became a colonel of a regiment of foot. In 1639, he returned to England and was pardoned by Charles I. He joined the King's army during this time. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London in 1641. He was removed on petition from the Commons, knighted in 1641, made prisoner during the Battle of Edgehill in 1642 and released in 1644.

He sailed to the early British colony of Virginia with his family in 1649, where he died in 1656.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1903). "Lunsford, Sir Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. Index and Epitome. Cambridge University Press. p. 800. 

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