Lord Protector or otherwise unable to rule. Notable cases in England are: and in Scotland: The Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland was the title of the head of state during the Commonwealth (or, to monarchists, the Interregnum), following the first period when a Council of State held executive power. The title was held by Oliver Cromwell (December 1653 – September 1658) and subsequently his son and designated successor Richard Cromwell (September 1658 – May 1659) during what is now known as The Protectorate. The 1653 Instrument of Government (republican constitution) stated that— Oliver Cromwell, Captain-General of the
Charles Porter (Lord Chancellor of Ireland) the Government. Porter appears to have been the only member of the Dublin administration in whom the King confided, which suggests that James initially trusted him. However Porter strongly objected to the policy of wholesale replacement of Protestant office-holders by Catholics, and this rapidly undermined his credit with James II. Porter quarreled violently with the Duke of Tyrconnel, the effective leader of the Irish Catholics, and soon to be Lord Deputy of Ireland. Tyrconnel, true to his nickname of "Lying Dick Talbot", (he was not related to Charles), falsely accused him taking bribes, and he was dismissed from office early