Sir Thomas Rich, 1st Baronet

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Sir Thomas Rich (c. 1601-1667), was an English politician who established Sir Thomas Rich's School, a grammar school.

Rich was born in Gloucester in 1601. He was sent to school in London to study at the newly founded Wadham College, Oxford. Afterwards, he worked in the city of London in the wine importing trade. Rich later purchased the manor of Sonning, near Reading, and became the local MP for Reading. Charles II made him a Baronet.

Rich died in 1667.^[1] In his will, Rich left £6000 and his house in Gloucester to establish a school for poor boys. The money was invested in local farm land, and the rent generated by the house was used to pay for the upkeep and operation of the school. Sir Thomas Rich's School opened in 1668, one year after Rich's death, and is still in use today as a grammar school, although not in its original location. The Tommy Psalm (the School Song) describes the history of the school.

Sir Thomas Rich was buried in the parish church at Sonning, under the church tower.

[edit] References

Parliament of England
Preceded by Daniel Blagrave	Member of Parliament for Reading with John Blagrave 1630–1704 c.1660–1661	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Dolman Richard Aldworth
Baronetage of England
Preceded by (new creation)	Baronet (of Sunning, Berkshire) 1661–1667	Succeeded by William Rich