John Dixwell, alias James Davids | |
|---|---|
 Center Church on the Green, New Haven, Connecticut; its cemetery includes Dixwell's monument | |
| Member of Parliament for Dover | |
| In office Long Parliament August 1646 to April 1653 (dissolved); reseated May 1659, dissolved March 1660 – Third Protectorate Parliament January to April 1659 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kent | |
| In office 1654–1658 | |
| Governor of Dover Castle | |
| In office January 1652 – May 1660 | |
| English Council of State | |
| In office November 1651 to October 1652 – May to December 1659 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1607 Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire |
| Died | 18 March 1689 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Resting place | Center Church on the Green |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Joanna Ling (November 1673) (2) Bathsheba Howe (1677–his death) |
| Children | (2) Mary; John; Elizabeth |
| Alma mater | Lincoln's Inn |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Parliamentarian |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Kent Trained Bands |
| Battles/wars | |
John Dixwell, alias James Davids (c. 1607 – 18 March 1689), was an English lawyer, republican politician and regicide. Born in Warwickshire, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms he held various administrative positions in Kent on behalf of Parliament, and approved the Execution of Charles I in January 1649. Under the Commonwealth, he served as Governor of Dover Castle, and was a member of the English Council of State.
Aware that he faced likely prosecution as a regicide, Dixwell fled to Germany shortly before the May 1660 Stuart Restoration, and was condemned to death by Parliament. He later made his way to New Haven, Connecticut, where he lived quietly under the name of James Davids, untroubled by the authorities, who thought him dead. He died in 1689.