Lieutenant Colonel Edward Massie
This site is Sponsored by Gloucestershire Web Hosting and Gloucestershire Self Storage Group
Governor of Gloucester and Jamaica
It has been pointed out to us that Edward Massie spelt his name like this. Text books on the subject all seem to spell the name as MASSEY . In respect to Colonel Massie, we have changed all spellings to what he would have used himself.
In 1642 civil war broke out in England. Gloucester, as a largely Puritan trading city burdened by the illegal taxes of King Charles 1, stood against him and sided with the forces of parliament.
By 1643 Gloucester stood alone against the King in the west of England, and on August 10th a Royalist army of 30,000 men led by Charles besieged the city.
His opponent was 23 year old Lieutenant Colonel Edward Massie who, as commander of the Gloucester garrison had just over 1500 men under him. Despite this, the reinforced Medieval walls of Gloucester withstood the Kings artillery bombardment for 26 days until a relieving Parliamentary army arrived from London. That day - 5 September 1643 - became known as Gloucester day.
Massie had been a professional soldier and military engineer both on the continent and in Scotland before the civil war. In 1660 Massie was elected member of Parliament for Gloucester. Later, in the reign of Charles 11 he was knighted and made Governor of Jamaica. See also Civil War
Other Famous Gloucester People
Bishop Hooper Burned at the stake at Gloucester
Edward Massey Governor of Gloucester and Jamaica
Robert Raikes Founder of the Sunday School Movement
John Stafford Smith Composer of the Star Spangled Banner
John Taylor The water poet
Charles Wheatstone Physicist
George Whitefield Preacher
James Wood Banker
Frank Whittle inventor of the Jet engine
Wilfred George Carter OBE Aircraft Designer
Howard Blackburn An incredible transatlantic voyage
our directory
We only list Gloucestershire sites in our free directory. If you run a local site, why not submit it free.
virtual gloucestershire
We have articles, pictures and video clips of Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and many other towns and villages of Gloucestershire
message boards
Have your say on Gloucestershire news or just chat with our friendly members. We also have event boards telling you what's on in Gloucestershire.