John Throckmorton
Sir John Throckmorton (1524 – 22 May 1580) was a lawyer and member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. He was also a witness to Queen Mary's will.
Biography
He was the seventh son of Sir George Throckmorton (d.1552) of Coughton Court in Warwickshire and trained in the law becoming an Inner Temple barrister. His mother, Hon. Katherine Vaux was the half-sister of Sir Thomas Parr, making her an aunt of Queen Catherine Parr.[2]
He married Margaret, the sister of George Puttenham, the reputed author of 'The Arte of English Poesie'. She had links with the influential Grey family of Leicestershire.
Sir John was MP for Leicester (1545), Camelford (1547), Warwick (Mar 1553), Old Sarum (Oct 1553) and then four times for Coventry (1554, 1555, 1558 and 1559). He was, in 1547, the first High Steward of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield appointed after the 1528 Royal Charter; and with the help of his patron, the Duke of Northumberland, he became attorney to the Council in the Marches of Wales in 1550. He later held various legal positions including Recorder of Coventry, Worcester, Ludlow and Shrewsbury. During the reign of Queen Mary I (1553–1558) he was one of the two Masters of Requests. [3] He was knighted in 1565 but later fell out of favour. His career ended in disgrace after he was found guilty of giving a judgement in favour of a relative.
He is remembered more for his connections than his own achievements:
- His brother Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (1515–1571) was involved with the Wyatt Rebellion of 1554. His eldest brother was Sir Robert Throckmorton (1513–1581) of Coughton.
- A relative John Throckmorton of Tortworth, Gloucestershire, MP for Wootton Bassett was executed for involvement in the Dudley conspiracy of 1555.[4]
- He was the father of Francis Throckmorton, executed for treason for his part in the Throckmorton Plot of 1584 (his own death in 1582 spared him the disgrace).
References
- History of Parliament, a biographical dictionary of Members of the House of Commons.
- THROCKMORTON, John I (by 1534-80) of Feckenham, Worcs.
- ↑ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.792
- ↑ Elizabeth FitzHugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden FITZHUGH FAMILY PAGE: Entry of Elizabeth FitzHugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden
- ↑ "Masters of Requests". Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ History of Parliament article.
Honorary titles | ||
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New title | High Steward of Sutton Coldfield 1547–1582 |
Succeeded by Henry Goodere |