John Hampden was an English politician and leading Parliamentarian in the early stages of the English Civil War. He was known for his opposition to King Charles I's attempts to levy taxes without Parliament's consent, and he became a prominent figure in the conflict between the King and Parliament. Hampden's resistance to the King's policies made him a symbol of the struggle for constitutional rights and limited government. His legacy as a champion of parliamentary sovereignty and individual liberties continues to be remembered in English history.