William Lenthall, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons

William Lenthall, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons

• Birth: Jun., 1591
• Death: Sep., 1662

British Statesman. Famously served as Speaker of the Long Parliament. As holder of this title, he famously refused to answer to King Charles I, when he came to the House of Commons to arrest the Five Members. Lenthall's reply to the King was "I have neither eyes to see or tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am." This was the last time a reigning monarch entered the House. A painting depicting this scene hangs in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament. (bio by: Kieran Smith)

Wife: Elizabeth Evans

• Wikipedia contributors. "William Lenthall." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
• "LENTHALL, William (1591-1662), of Lincoln's Inn, London; later of Burford Priory, Oxon.", The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010
• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol II. page 954
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6531507&a...