Born 1599 – Died 1658 • Lord Protector

Photo: NPG/Robert Walker/Wikimedia • Believed to be in the Public Domain (Age - Copyright expired)

"Depart, I say; and let us have done with you.

In the name of God, go!"

Cromwell when ejecting Parliament, 1653

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Declared Britain a republic 'The Commonwealth' and ruled as its Lord Protector. Led the New Model Army to victory against the Royalists of England, the Catholics of Ireland, the rebels of Scotland, expelled Parliament and put Britain under military rule. For the next 300 years, everything he stood for: rule of Parliament, importance of commerce, rise of sea power, moral compass of good Puritans - came to define Britain itself. Rivalled only by Gladstone, Churchill and Thatcher.

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When Cromwell's New Model Army invaded Ireland, its main foodstuffs were barley, wheat, rye, cattle, sheep, goats and dairy produce, taken from surrounding hostile countryside. Foodstuffs sent from England had to be long life durables, such as biscuits, cheese and barrels of herrings. Durand's canned food would take another 160 years to arrive!

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"In the late wars both Ireland and Scotland were conquered by timely provision of Cheshire cheese

and biscuits."  Veteran New Model Army Officer

“The greatest Englishman...the greatest soldier statesman of the 17th century…whose sacrifices and achievements have produced the English speaking world as we at present know it.”

Theodore Roosevelt , President USA