Thomas Heneage

Sir Thomas Heneage PC (1532 – 17 October 1595) was an English politician and a courtier at the court of Elizabeth I.

Contents

Early and personal life

Heneage was born at Copt Hall, Epping, Essex, the son of Robert Heneage and Lucy Buckton. Robert was a member of Henry VIII's Privy Chamber. Thomas Heneage was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge.[1]

In 1554 Heneage married Anne Poyntz, daughter of Sir Nicholas Poyntz and Joan Berkeley. Their only daughter Elizabeth married Sir Moyle Finch, Bt and was created Countess of Winchilsea. Following Anne's death in 1593, he married Mary Browne, Countess of Southampton on 2 May 1594; this marriage was childless.[2]

Career

Heneage was elected Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1553, before sitting for Arundel from 1559. He was then elected for Boston in 1563 but chose to sit for Lincolnshire. He was again returned for Lincolnshire in 1571 and 1572, and for Essex in 1584, 1586, 1589, and 1593.[2]

He became a courtier under Elizabeth I.[3] He became a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber about 1565 at around that time, she flirted with him, making her favourite, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, jealous. However, Heneage had so far been on good terms with Leicester and the Earl, in his 1587 will, called him "my good old friend".[4] In 1570 he rose to Treasurer of the Queen's Privy Chamber,[2][5] and was knighted in 1577.[2] In 1586, Heneage was sent by the Queen to the Netherlands. He was to convey to the States General her strong protest of the Earl of Leicester having accepted their offer of the title Governor-General. Heneage read out publicly Elizabeth's letters of disapproval before the Dutch politicians, Leicester, their new Governor General, having to stand nearby.[6] He became Vice-Chamberlain of the Household and was sworn of the Privy Council of England in 1587, before being appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1590.[2]

He was also a friend of Francis Walsingham.[7]

Heneage died on 17 October 1595 and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Heneage, Thomas in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Hicks, Michael (January 2008). "Heneage, Sir Thomas (b. in or before 1532, d. 1595)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12921. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/12921. Retrieved 23 January 2011.  Subscription or UK public library membership required
  3. ^ tudorplace.com.ar Retrieved 10-08-2009
  4. ^ Wilson pp. 177, 178–179
  5. ^ Hutchinson p. 32
  6. ^ Chamberlin pp. 263–265
  7. ^ Hutchinson p. 354

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Sir Christopher Hatton		 Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
1587–1595		 Unknown
Title next held by
Sir John Stanhope
Preceded by
Sir Francis Walsingham		 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1590–1595		 In commission
Title next held by
Sir Robert Cecil