Thomas Blagge | |
|---|---|
 Colonel Thomas Blagge | |
| Governor of Great Yarmouth and Landguard Fort | |
| In office May 1660 – November 1660 | |
| Groom of the Chamber to Charles I and Charles II | |
| In office 1635–1660 | |
| Governor of Wallingford Castle | |
| In office February 1643 – July 1646 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1613 (baptised) Little Horringer Hall, Suffolk |
| Died | 4 November 1660 (aged 47) London |
| Resting place | Westminster Abbey [1] |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse | Mary North (1641–1660; his death) |
| Children | Henrietta Maria; Dorothy; Mary; Margaret |
| Occupation | Soldier and member of the Royal Household |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
Colonel Thomas Blagge (13 July 1613 – 4 November 1660) served as Groom of the Chamber to Charles I and his son Charles II. He fought for the Royalists during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and following the Execution of Charles I in January 1649, joined the exiled Stuart court in France. He helped Charles II evade capture after defeat at Worcester in 1651, and although arrested himself, escaped from the Tower of London. He remained in exile for the next decade, fighting in the Franco-Spanish War during the brief Royalist alliance with Spain.
Born at Little Horringer Hall, Blagge was part of the Suffolk county gentry, connections which led to an appointment as a close personal servant to the king. When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, he quickly became a trusted and reliable Royalist brigade commander, and as governor of Wallingford Castle was one of the last to surrender in July 1646. He returned to England following the May 1660 Stuart Restoration and received a number of offices before dying in November 1660. Despite his early death, his loyalty was not forgotten and two of his daughters were appointed Maid of honour to the Duchess of York.