Giles Strangways

He was the son of Sir John Strangways (1585-1666) of Melbury and his first wife Grace Trenchard, daughter of Sir George Trenchard of Wolveton.

In April 1640 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, Dorset, in the Short Parliament. He was elected MP for Bridport, Dorset, in the Long Parliament in November 1640. He supported the king and was a Colonel in a regiment of horse. He was disabled from sitting in Parliament in January 1644 and was fined £10,000 for the service of the navy in August 1644. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for two and a half years, partly as a hostage for his father. When he was set free, he had a very large gold medal struck, to commemorate his imprisonment.

In 1651, as King Charles II was trying to escape from England after losing the Battle of Worcester, he stayed at Trent Manor, the home of Francis Wyndham, who consulted his cousin Strangways (both were descended from John Wadham (d.1578)) about finding a ship to carry the king to France. Strangways was unable to help find a ship, but was able to provide 300 gold pieces to Charles, and encouraged Wyndham to search further in the area around Lyme (now Lyme Regis.)

In 1661 Strangways was elected an MP for Dorset for the Cavalier Parliament remaining until his death in 1675.

Strangways married Susanna Edwards, a daughter of Thomas Edwards, of the City of London, a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, by whom he had issue including:

• Thomas Strangways (1643-1713), MP;
• John Strangways (died 1676), MP;
• Wadham Strangways, MP.
• Grace Strangways. m. Francis Dyves.
• Judith Strangways. m. (1665) George Ayliffe of Grittenham, Wilts.
• Susanna Strangways (1651-1686). m. (1672/3) James Long of Athelhampton, Dorset. He was the eldest son and heir of Sir James Long, 2nd Baronet