Francis Godolphin (1605–1667)

Sir Francis Godolphin of Godolphin (* 1605, † March 22, 1667 ) was an English aristocrat and royalist during the reign of Charles I of England.

Francis Godolphin of Godolphin was the first son of Sir William Godolphin of Godolphin (1567-1613) and came from an old family in the county of Cornwall, whose family seat, the Godolphin House was near Helston in the former Kerrier District. The Godolphin family, whose wealth stemmed from tin mining, could trace their lineage back to the time of the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William I.. Francis Godolphin of Godolphin had two younger brothers, Sidney Godolphin (1610-1643) and William Godolphin ( 1611-1636 ).

In the House of Commons Francis Godolphin of Godolphin represented the constituency of Helston from 1625 to 1626 and in the Long Parliament of 1640th Francis Godolphin of Godolphin was well acquainted with Thomas Hobbes, who taught the preface to his theory of the state Leviathan writing directly to him. In the English Civil War he fought on the side of the royalist troops of Charles I of England. After Sidney Godolphin's brother had been killed in 1643 during fighting in the county of Devon, he succeeded him as Governor of the Scilly Islands to and helped in the defense of the islands against the parliamentarians. After the capture of the king, he acted out an honorable capitulation for the Isles of Scilly. During the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, he was again elected for Helston in Parliament and levied on the occasion of the coronation of Charles II of England to knighthood.

Francis Godolphin of Godolphin had with Dorothy Berkley, whom he had married in 1634, a total of 13 children. His son Sidney Godolphin later became the 1st Earl of Godolphin, and was several times Lord High Treasurer.