The ProtectorateW
The Protectorate

The Protectorate was the period during the Commonwealth during which England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the English overseas possessions were governed by a Lord Protector as a republic. The Protectorate began in 1653, when the dissolution of the Rump Parliament and then Barebone's Parliament allowed Oliver Cromwell to be appointed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth under the terms of the Instrument of Government. In 1659, the Protectorate Parliament was dissolved by the Committee of Safety as Richard Cromwell, who had succeeded his father as Lord Protector, was unable to keep control of the Parliament and the Army. That marked the end of the Protectorate and the start of a second period of rule by the Rump Parliament as the legislature and the Council of State as the executive.

First Protectorate ParliamentW
First Protectorate Parliament

The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.

List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1654W
List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1654

This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the First Protectorate Parliament under the Commonwealth of England which began at Westminster on 3 September 1654, and was held to 22 January 1655.

List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1656W
List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1656

This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Second Protectorate Parliament under the Commonwealth of England which began at Westminster on 17 September 1656, and was held until 4 February 1658.

List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1659W
List of MPs elected to the English parliament in 1659

This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Third Protectorate Parliament under the Commonwealth of England which began at Westminster on 27 January 1659, and was held until 22 April 1659.

Second Protectorate ParliamentW
Second Protectorate Parliament

The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons. In its first session, the House of Commons was its only chamber; in the second session an Other House with a power of veto over the decisions of the Commons was added.

Third Protectorate ParliamentW
Third Protectorate Parliament

The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons. It was a bicameral Parliament, with an Upper House having a power of veto over the Commons.