1659
There were two committees of safety in 1659. The first was set up on 7 May, on the authority of the Rump Parliament, to replace the Lord Protector Richard Cromwell's Council of State. It initially had seven members Charles Fleetwood, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Sir Henry Vane the Younger, Edmund Ludlow, William Sydenham, Richard Salwey, and John Jones. Two days latter on 9 May four more men were appointed to the committee John Lambert, John Desborough, James Berry and Thomas Scot. It was only a temporary expediency and was dissolved two weeks later when on 19 May a new Council of State was appointed.
The last Committee of Safety was set up on 26 October 1659 by the high command of the New Model Army just before the Restoration. It was set up in response to the Rump Parliament which the day before tried to place the commander of the army Charles Fleetwood as chief of a military council under the authority of the speaker. The members of the last committee were:
- Henry Vane the Younger
- Bulstrode Whitelocke,
- William Sydenham,
- John Lambert,
- James Berry,
- Lord Warriston (Archibald Johnston)
- Edmund Ludlow,
- Richard Salwey,
- John Desborough,
- Charles Fleetwood,
- Sir James Harrington,
- William Steele,
- Walter Strickland,
- Henry Lawrence,
- John Ireton,
- Robert Tichborne,
- Henry Brandrith,
- Robert Thomson,
- John Hewson,
- John Clark (or John Clerk),
- Robert Lilburne,
- Robert Bennet,
- Cornelius Holland.
Read more about this topic: English Committee Of Safety