Philip Meadows (died 1718)


Sir Philip Meadows was an English diplomat and official, an ambassador for Oliver Cromwell.

Life

He was the fifth son of Daniel Meadowe or Meadows of Chattisham, and his wife Elizabeth, and was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. there in 1646. He took his M.A. in 1649 at Queens' College, where he was a Fellow. In October 1653 he was appointed, on John Thurloe's recommendation, Latin secretary to Cromwell's Council of State. The appointment was made for the benefit of John Milton, who was losing his sight between Denmark and Sweden; Cromwell wanted protect Denmark's interests. Meadows had an interview with Charles X of Sweden after the treaty. Meadows was sent on to take part as a mediator in negotiations between the kings of Sweden and Poland, but shortly gave up the task. He was knighted, and went to the Swedish court in 1658, but on a fruitless mission.
After the English Restoration of 1660, Meadows retired from public life, but was once more knighted, by Charles II in 1662. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 brought him back to prominence, and he held official positions from 1692 to 1715.

Works

Meadows published:
Meadows married, in April 1661, Constance, second daughter and coheiress of Francis Lucy of Westminster. They had a son and three daughters, including Elizabeth who married Sir Thomas Powys. A second daughter married Richard Dyott, commissioner of stamp duties from 1708 to 1710, convicted of fraud. The son, Philip Meadowes, was a commissioner of excise from 1698 to 1700, was on 2 July 1700 appointed Knight Marshal of the king's household. He was a diplomat and Member of Parliament.