Sir Henry Bromley (1560 - 15 May 1615) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1584 and 1604.
Bromley was the eldest son of Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor and his wife Elizabeth Fortescue, daughter of Sir Adrian Fortescue of Shirburn, Oxfordshire. He matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxford on 17 December 1576 aged 16 and was a student of Inner Temple in 1579.[1]
In 1584, Bromley was elected Member of Parliament for Plymouth. He was re-elected MP for Plymouth in 1586. By 1586 he had purchased the manor of Great Malvern from Lord Lumley. On the death of his father in 1587, he inherited an extensive property in Worcestershire, including Holt Castle and lands in Shropshire. From about 1591 to 1601 he was J.P. for Worcestershire and was High Sheriff of Worcestershire from 1591 to 1592. He was knighted in 1592. In 1593 he purchaased the manor of Upton, Worcestershire, from Sir Anthony Bourne and Herbert Croft and was elected MP for Worcestershire. However he and his fellow MP were recruited by Richard Stephens to support the proposal of Peter Wentworth to bring the question of succession before the House of Commons. Bromley, Stephens and Walsh spent most of the session in the Fleet Prison, and were not released until late April after the end of Parliament.[2]
In 1597 Bromley was elected MP for Shropshire, and thus became one of the few MPs to be Knight of the Shire for two counties. He was JP for Shropshire from about 1598 and was collector for the loan in 1598. In 1600 he was assessed, as of Shropshire, to furnish one horse for service in Ireland. He had become associated with the Earl of Essex, and had offered to "do him service". Although Bromley did not take part in the rebellion, he was sent to the Tower of London on 21 February 1601, and examined on 5 May. He was fined and deprived of his position as JP and was not released until May 1602. [2]
When Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, Bromley was one of the first to go north to greet King James. He was restored to favour and made a gentleman of the privy chamber. In 1604 he was elected MP for Worcestershire again. Bromley died at the age of 74 and was described as a "lover and favourer of learning, religious in the course of his life, sweet in his conversations, with all sorts bountiful in hospitality, charitable and pitiful to the poor".[2]
Bromley married firstly Elizabeth Pelham, daughter of Sir William Pelham, master of the ordnance. He married secondly Elizabeth Verney, daughter of Hugh Verney of Somerset. His third wife was Anne Beswick, daughter of William Beswick of Cheshire, and alderman of London. He married fourrthly Anne Appleby, widow of William Appleby, merchant of the staple.[2] He had at least three sons of whom Thomas was later MP for Worcestershire.[1]
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Member of Parliament for Plymouth 1584-1586 With: Hugh Vaughan 1586 |
Succeeded by Miles Sandys |
| Preceded by Sir John Russell William Lygon |
Member of Parliament for Worcestershire 1593 With: William Walsh |
Succeeded by John Lyttelton Edward Colles |
| Preceded by Francis Newport Sir Robert Needham |
Member of Parliament for Shropshire 1597 With: Thomas Leighton |
Succeeded by John Egerton Roger Owen |
| Preceded by Thomas Leighton Thomas Russell |
Member of Parliament for Worcestershire 1604-1611 With: Sir William Lygon 1604-1609 Sir Samuel Sandys 1609-1611 |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Lyttelton Sir Samuel Sandys |