A life of John Hampden, the patriot (1594-1643)

John Hampden was cousin to Oliver Cromwell and, had he not met an untimely death in 1643, from a wound received at the battle of Chalgrove Field in the first year of the Civil War, might well have achieved similar fame in English history both as a military commander and as the natural successor to John Pym. John Hampden was the first member of the House of Commons to achieve a truly national popularity. John Adair describes the character of this sturdily independent man. Hampden was known and admired for his easy and pleasant personality, his scholarly and practical interests and the care he took over the education of his own children and of those entrusted to him. Scholar, soldier and statesman, he was as adept on the battlefield as he was brilliant in parliament. John Adair vividly portrays the qualities of the man whom so many new simply as "The Patriot".