Francis Rous | |
|---|---|
 Francis Rous | |
| Member of Parliament for Cornwall | |
| In office 1656 – 1659 † | |
| Member of Parliament for Truro 1626: 1640 | |
| In office 1654–1655 | |
| Speaker of the House of Commons | |
| In office 1653–1653 | |
| Provost, Eton College | |
| In office 1644–1659 | |
| Member of Parliament for Tregony | |
| In office 1628–1629 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1581[1] Dittisham, Devon |
| Died | 7 January 1659 (aged 77) Acton |
| Resting place | Eton College Chapel |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse | Philippa (1619–1657) |
| Children | Francis Rous (1615–1643) |
| Parent(s) | Sir Anthony Rous (c.1555–1620) Elizabeth Southcote (1547–1585) |
| Relatives | John Pym (stepbrother) |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Oxford Leiden University |
| Occupation | Politician and theologian |
Francis Rous, also spelled Rouse (c. 1581 to 1659), was an English politician and Puritan religious author, who was Provost of Eton from 1644 to 1659, and briefly Speaker of the House of Commons in 1653.
Stepbrother of Parliamentary leader John Pym, he joined him in opposing Arminianism in the Church of England, and played a leading role in the impeachment of Archbishop Laud. When the First English Civil War began in 1642, he supported the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant, and was appointed to the Westminster Assembly.
Under the Protectorate, he moved away from his Presbyterian colleagues, becoming closer to the religious Independents, and Oliver Cromwell. He died in January 1659, and was buried in Eton College Chapel.