Charles Godfrey

Colonel Charles Godfrey (1646 – 23 February 1714) was an English Army officer, courtier and Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons for 22 years between 1689 and 1713. Early life Godfrey came from a recusant family, originating in Norfolk, and was the son of Francis Godfrey of Little Chelsea, Middlesex and his wife Anne née Blount. He was born on 6 November 1646 in Westminster, and was baptised on 26 November at Mapledurham, Oxfordshire. He joined the cavalry and was a captain in the Grenadier Guards in 1674. In 1678, he was lieutenant-colonel of Sir Thomas Slingsby's regiment and then captain-lieutenant of horse in the Duke of Monmouth's regiment. He became a major of horse in Lord Gerard's regiment in 1679. Godfrey married Arabella Churchill, former mistress of King James II, on 1 June 1680 at Holy Trinity Minories, London. He was thus brother-in-law of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and on course for preferment in the Royal Household. He also became a close friend and political protégé of Thomas Wharton. He was one of the first to join the Prince of Orange at the Revolution and was rewarded with his own regiment, as Colonel of Godfrey's Regiment of Cuirassiers in 1688. Career Godfrey was returned as Member of Parliament for Malmesbury at the 1689 general election. In 1690 he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament at Westminster. He was returned at a by-election on 26 October 1691 as MP for Wycombe (also known as Chipping Wycombe) by his friend Thomas Wharton. He was returned again in 1695 and 1698. He was appointed Master of the Jewel Office in 1698.