Isaac Dorislaus

Isaac Dorislaus, doctor of civil laws and diplomat, was buried in the north aisle of Henry VII's chapel at Westminster Abbey on 14th June 1649. By Royal Warrant dated 9th September 1661 his body was exhumed and buried in a pit in St Margaret's churchyard, adjoining the Abbey, together with other followers of Oliver Cromwell. In 1966 an inscription was cut into the tower of St Margaret's giving the names of 21 of those buried:

This tablet is erected by the Cromwell Association to the memory of the undermentioned whose remains were disinterred from Westminster Abbey at the time of the restoration of King Charles II and were in September 1661 buried in this churchyard of St Margaret's

He was born at Alkmaar in Holland, son of Lieven Dorislaus. His brothers were Abraham and Jacob. After education at Leiden he married Elisabeth Pope and was appointed to a history lectureship at Cambridge. Their son John died young and their other children were Isaac, Elizabeth and Margaret. At the trial of Charles I he was counsel for the prosecution. While visiting The Hague he was stabbed by Royalists and his body returned to London to lie in state. His son Isaac had three children: Isaac, James and Anne.

Further Reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004