Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet

Sir Alexander Carew
Sir Alexander Carew
Governor of St Nicholas' Island, Plymouth
In office
1642 – August 1643
Member of Parliament
for Cornwall
In office
November 1640 – September 1643 (suspended)
Personal details
Born(1609-08-30)30 August 1609
Antony, Cornwall
Died23 December 1644(1644-12-23) (aged 35)
Tower Hill
Cause of deathExecuted for treason
Resting placeSt Augustine's, Hackney
NationalityEnglish
SpouseJane Rolle (1606–1679)
RelationsJohn Carew; James Chudleigh;
ChildrenSir John Carew; Richard (1641-1691) Joan (?-1716); Mary; Bridget
Parent(s)Bridget Chudleigh (ca 1584–1612); Sir Richard Carew (1580–1643)
OccupationLandowner, soldier and politician
Military service
Allegiance England
Battles/warsFirst English Civil War

Sir Alexander Carew (30 August 1608 – 23 December 1644) was an English landowner, soldier and politician from Antony, Cornwall. Elected Member of Parliament for Cornwall in November 1640, he voted for the execution of the Earl of Strafford in May 1641, and supported the removal of bishops from the Church of England.

When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, he was one of the relatively few members of the Cornish gentry who backed Parliament. In March 1643, he was appointed commander of St Nicholas' Island, a key defensive position for Plymouth. He was arrested in August, after attempting to switch sides and handing over the island to the Royalists, and was taken to London.[1]

In a demonstration of Parliament's commitment to winning the war, he was executed for treason in December 1644, followed in January by Sir John Hotham, his son John Hotham the younger, and Archbishop Laud. His half-brother, John Carew, was executed as a regicide in October 1660.

  1. ^ Hopper 2012, p. 48.