Sir John Meldrum ( – died 1645) was a soldier of Scottish origin who spent 36 years in the service of the Stuart kings of Scotland and England,

James VI and I James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...

and

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

. In 1636, Meldrum was granted by

letters-patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) (plurale tantum, always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, President (government title), president or other head of state, genera ...

from the king licence to continue and renew the lighthouses erected by Charles I on the

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north ...

and South Forelands.The Penny Magazine. 19 September 1835. pp.365
/ref> In 1642, he found himself opposed to the policies of Charles' government and supported the Parliamentarian cause in the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. His most notable action was his defeat by Prince Rupert at the

relief of Newark The Relief of Newark (21 March 1644) was a Royalist victory during the First English Civil War. It was a personal victory for Prince Rupert and it resulted in the Royalists holding Newark-on-Trent until very near the end of the war. Back ...

in early 1644. He also directed the successful construction of a firing platform in Gosport during the

Siege of Portsmouth The siege of Portsmouth was the siege of a Royalist garrison in Portsmouth by a Parliamentarian force conducted in the early part of the First English Civil War. The siege resulted in Portsmouth falling to Parliament after a little under a ...

. On 20 August 1644 his forces defeated royalist cavalry force numbering about 2500 at the

Battle of Ormskirk The Battle of Ormskirk was fought on 20 August 1644 during the First English Civil War. It was a decisive victory for the Parliamentarian force commanded by Major-General Sir John Meldrum over the Royalist force commanded by Lord Byron. Ba ...

. He was killed during the

Great Siege of Scarborough Castle The Great Siege of Scarborough Castle was a major conflict for control of one of England's most important stone fortresses during the First English Civil War fought between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists loyal to King Charles I. In Feb ...

References

Notes

External links

Biography of John Meldrum
British Civil Wars and Commonwealth website {{DEFAULTSORT:Meldrum, John 16th-century births 1645 deaths Burials at St Margaret's, Westminster People killed in the English Civil War Scottish soldiers Parliamentarian military personnel of the English Civil War