Thomas Tesdale

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Thomas Tesdale (1547-1610) was a maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon in the English county of Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) and the primary founding financier of Pembroke College, Oxford.

Thomas was born in Stanford Dingley in Berkshire and attended John Royse's Free School in Abingdon (now Abingdon School). He became a rich maltster in the town, where he served as mayor, and purchased the manor of Ludwell in Oxfordshire. He left no children when he died, but gave £51,000 for the education of seven fellows and six scholars from his old school at Balliol College, Oxford. In 1623, this money was augmented by Rev Richard Wightwick of East Ilsey and used instead for the transformation of Broadgates Hall into Pembroke College, named after the Chancellor, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke.