Full name: Oliver Cromwell Born: 25th April 1599 Place of Birth: Cambridgeshire Occupation: Lord Protector, Politician and Soldier Died: 3rd September 1658

Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland and an English Military leader born on 25th April 1599 in Cambridgeshire.  Cromwell was born into an East Anglian Gentry family and grew up in Huntingdon before studying at Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge.  Cromwell's grandfather, Thomas Cromwell built a house in Huntingdon after attaining land from the monastery. 

However, Cromwell's father did not inherit the family's fortunes and Cromwell experienced a difficult upbringing.  Cromwell became a radical puritan and often preached to voice his strong beliefs.

Cromwell became an MP for Huntingdon in the late 1620s before deciding to become an independent puritan and took a tolerant view towards protestant beliefs and values in society.  Cromwell became MP for Cambridge in 1640 and worked to reform the church with the aim to eradicate Bishops in the short and long parliaments.

He led a force of cavalry as cavalry commander of the Army of the Eastern Association, a parliamentarian force in East Anglia and served at the Battle of Marston Moor.

Cromwell became lieutenant-general after the English Civil War erupted between Charles I and parliament in 1642. Cromwell served in the 'New Model Army', which defeated the King in the Battle of Naseby in 1645. 

Cromwell decided to lead the successful trial and execution of Charles I in 1649 and became army commander and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.  Cromwell subsequently defeated Scottish supporters of the Charles II in the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 after invading Scotland. 

Cromwell subsequently won a second victory over the Scottish in the Battle of Worcester, which terminated the Civil War.  In 1653, Cromwell and his army dissolved the long parliament, which many believed was corrupt and reflected puritan values. 

In 1657, Cromwell refused an offer to become king and appointed himself Lord Protector after failing to implement the Puritan Convention as a solution to breaking up the Long Parliament.  As Lord Protector, Cromwell reformed the country's national church and allowed Jews back into Britain.

Cromwell was also successful in ending the war with Portugal and Holland and defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Dunes in 1958.

After Cromwell's death on 3rd September 1658, his son Richard became the new Lord Protector of England but he lost the support of his army and was overthrown in 1659.