Coventry's Godly Magistrate: Robert Beake (1620?- 1708), soldier, mayor and MP

Centre for West Midlands History Research Seminar

Stewart Fergusson, Independent Researcher

In this presentation, Stewart Fergusson will explore a local aspect of what Bernard Capp characterised as England’s Culture Wars. Robert Beake, mayor of Coventry in 1655/6, worked closely with the region’s ‘Major General’, Edward Whalley, local ministers and constables to make Coventry an English Zion and realise the puritan mission of godly discipline and moral reformation. However, although he was an MP in Cromwell’s republic, Beake was disillusioned with military rule and became an active supporter of the Restoration.

This talk will be delivered via Zoom. The meeting details will be sent to all those registered two days and again two hours before the event.

Register here