Henry Vaughan

Sir Henry Vaughan the elder (by 1586 1660/61?) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1644. He was a Royalist leader during the English Civil War.

Family and early life Vaughan was the sixth son of Walter Vaughan of Golden Grove, and his first wife Mary, daughter of Griffith Rice of Newton, Llandefaisant, Carmarthenshire. His date of birth is unknown, but assuming him to have been at least 21 in 1607, when he is recorded to have been appointed a deputy-coroner, he had been born by at least 1586. In 1621 he was elected Member of Parliament for Carmarthen, and was returned again in 1624. The 1625 election was a confused affair. Vaughan was returned for the third time for Carmarthen, as witnessed by the mayor and members of the common council. But shortly afterwards another return was made out in favour of Sir Francis Annesley, the Principal Secretary of Ireland. Vaughan was one of those who witnessed Annesley's return, probably indicating that he intended to stand aside on Annesley's behalf.

Military service In April 1640, Vaughan was elected MP for Carmarthenshire in the Short Parliament and again in November 1640 for the Long Parliament.

Vaughan had three sons, one of whom was illegitimate, and seven daughters. His eldest son, John, predeceased him and his estates descended to his second son, Sir Henry Vaughan the younger, who was MP for Carmarthenshire for some years after the Restoration.