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Bríd McGrath
Thomas Wentworth (1593–1641) came to the Lord Deputyship of Ireland with a background in Yorkshire and English politics. His ruthless, divisive and barely legal electioneering in Yorkshire was always on behalf of fellow members of the local gentry and invoked class issues. His behaviour during his time as President of the Council of the North prefigured his government of Ireland. Wentworth’s 1634 Irish election campaign built on his predecessors’ strategies, sending conciliatory signals to Catholics while conducting a strong operation, in defiance of the king’s orders, for the return of officials, soldiers and his own dependents, many of a lower social class and unconnected with their constituencies. He relied heavily on Irish privy councillors for the success of his campaign and lied to English politicians about the election results and parliamentary proceedings. His coercive treatment of parliament and its members during and after the sessions and his ruthless favouring of his clients and vindictive treatment of those who opposed him led him to over-reach himself and set a course for his downfall and execution.
