William Dormer

Sir William Dormer (1503 – 17 May 1575) was a Tudor knight, captain and politician, best known for a broken engagement to Jane Seymour, who later became the third wife of Henry VIII.

Life

William was born in 1503, the only child, son and heir, of Sir Robert Dormer of West Wycombe, Wing and London, and his wife Jane Newdigate, daughter of John Newdigate of Harefield and Amphilicia Neville, and granddaughter of William Dormer and wife Agnes Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers and wife Jacquetta of Luxembourg.[1] The Dormers were landowners.

He worked as a servant of Thomas Cromwell, and was friends with Cromwell's son Gregory Cromwell, who married Elizabeth Seymour. When he was 19 he fell in love with the 14 year old Jane Seymour. They were engaged to be married[2] but his parents disapproved. Lady Dormer arranged a marriage with Mary Sidney, daughter of Sir William Sidney.[3] They had two daughters,[4] Anne (who married Sir Walter Hungerford),[5] and Jane (a lady in waiting to Queen Mary who married the Duke of Feria the Spanish ambassador to the Court of Saint James).[6]

After Mary, his first wife, died he married Dorothy Catesby, 20 years his junior, and they had several children, including Robert Dormer. After his death she married Sir William Pelham.[7]

While young, he served as a soldier in the war against France in 1544 and two years later was mustered as captain of 100 men. He later (1553 and 1568) became High Sheriff of his county of Buckinghamshire and eventually MP for Buckinghamshire (1553 and 1557).

He died at the age of 72, and was buried in the family vault in the church of Wing. His wife Dorothy had a monument built for him in the church, and founded an almshouse in the village of Wing in his memory.

Notes

  1. ^ Hugh Hanley, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, article Pelham, Dorothy.
  2. ^ http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/WilliamDormer.htm
  3. ^  "Sidney, Henry (1529-1586)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  4. ^ Lundy, Darryl (16 January 2011). "Person Page - 17795". ThePeerage.com. http://thepeerage.com/p17795.htm#i177949.  cites Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1168.
  5. ^ Bindoff,, Stanley T.; et al (1982). The House of Commons: 1509 - 1558 ; 1, Appendices, constituencies, members A - C. 4. Boydell & Brewer. p. 141. ISBN 043604282. 
  6. ^ G.Q.B. (2003). "Domer, Jane (1538–1612)". In Hartley, Cathy. A historical dictionary of British women (2 ed.). Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 1857432282. 
  7. ^  "Pelham, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.