Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton
1613–1696
Long-lived Independent patron; Wharton Bibles for Dissenting children.
Biography
Of Exeter College Oxford, Wharton was thirty when the Assembly opened — the youngest of the peer assessors. He led a regiment at Edgehill (1642) and was a steady ally of Saye and Sele in the Independent interest. He withdrew at the regicide, refused office under the Protectorate, and was a leading manager of Restoration-era Dissent: a founder of the meetings that grew into the United Brethren and a constant patron of ejected ministers. By his will (1696) he endowed the 'Wharton Bibles' — Bibles distributed to dissenting children for two centuries afterwards. He lived through every English regime from James I to William III. Independent-leaning. Died in 1696, aged 83.
Lay Assessor — House of Lords
Parliament seated lay assessors from both Houses to sit with the divines and represent its interest. Ten peers were named from the House of Lords as lay assessors; like the Commons assessors they had voice in the Assembly but were not voting members, and they attended as their other duties allowed.