Philip Meadows

Sir Philip Meadows (1626-1718) was an English diplomat and official, an ambassador for Oliver Cromwell. Life He was the fifth son of Daniel Meadowe or Meadows (1571–1651) 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 (and who would have preferred Andrew Marvell. Meadows took on the bulk of the routine work in the department. In March 1656 Meadows was chosen to represent the Lord Protector at Lisbon, for the ratification of the treaty between England and Portugal. He returned towards the end of November. In February 1657 he was chosen as envoy to Frederick III of Denmark. He sailed in the Assistance in August 1657. In March 1658 he gave an account to Thurloe of the Treaty of Roskilde (8 March) 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.