William Crowne

William Crowne (1617–1682) had a varied career as an officer of arms, a member of parliament, a colonel during the English civil war, and one of the early colonists of North America. He was also the father of the playwright John Crowne.

Different sources have Crowne's birthdate as 1608, 1617 or as late as 1620, but little is known of his early life and education.

As a young man he accompanied his master the Earl of Arundel to Germany and wrote a book about his travels called "A true relation of all the remarkable places and passages observed in the travels of the right honourable Thomas Lord Hovvard, Earle of Arundell and Surrey, Primer Earle, and Earle Marshall of England, ambassadour extraordinary to his sacred Majesty Ferdinando the second, emperour of Germanie, anno Domini 1636. By Wiliam Crowne Gentleman, London". As Earl Marshal, Howard controlled appointments to the College of Arms; in 1638 he appointed Crowne Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, one of the four junior officers of arms. Crowne continued to hold this office, even while in North America, until his resignation in 1661.

Between 1635 and 1640 Crowne married Agnes Watts (née Mackworth), widow of Richard Watts (the son of alderman and Lord Mayor of London John Watts) and sister of Humphrey Mackworth, later governor of Shrewsbury and a member of Cromwell's Council of State. Crowne and his wife had 3 children, of whom the eldest, John became a well-known dramatist.

At the outbreak of the Civil War Crowne declared for the Parliamentary cause. From 1641 to at least 1644 he was secretary to Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh; by 1649 he was serving in the same capacity to his brother-in-law. On 2 April 1650 Crowne was granted a commission as captain, and just over two weeks later was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, again under his brother-in-law Humphrey Mackworth. In 1654 he was elected as MP for Bridgnorth. During the 1650s Crowne also served as a justice of the peace.

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