SMITH, Sir Thomas (1513-77), of Theydon Mount, Essex.

Family and Education

b. 23 Dec. 1513, 2nd s. of John Smith (d.1557) of Walden by Agnes, da. of one Charnock of Lancs. educ. Queens’, Camb. 1526, BA and fellow 1530-47, MA 1532, LlD and DCL 1542; travelled abroad (France, Italy) 1540-2. m. (1) 15 Apr. 1548, Elizabeth (d.1552), da. of William Carkeke of London, s.p.; (2) 23 July 1554, Philippa (d.1578), da. of John Wilford of London, wid. of Sir John Hampden of Theydon Mount, s.p.; 1s. illegit. b.1547, d. 1573. Kntd. 1549.

Offices Held

Reader in nat. philosophy and Greek, Camb. 1533 – 50, public orator 1533, regius prof. civil law 1540; vice-president, Queens’, Camb.; vice-chancellor, Camb. 1543 – 44; chancellor to bp. of Ely Jan. 1545; rector, Leverington, Cambs. 1545 – 49; dean of Carlisle 1548 – 54, from 1559; provost, Eton 1547 – 54; sec. to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset 1547; clerk of PC 1547 – 48; envoy to Antwerp 1548, France 1550, 1562 – 66, 1567, 1571 – 72; principal sec. 1548 – 49, from 1572; PC from Mar. 1571; chancellor of the Garter 1572; keeper of privy seal 1573.

J.p. Bucks., Essex from c. 1559; commr. subsidy, Essex 1570.

Parlimentarian

SMITH, Thomas I (1513-77), of Ankerwyke, Bucks and Hill Hall, Theydon Mount, Essex.

Main residence: Theydon Mount, Essex.

Notes

This biography is largely based upon M. Dewar, Sir Thomas Smith, a Tudor Intellectual in Office. See also Archaeologia, xxxviii. 98-127.

Author

M.R.P.

Volume

Commons 1558-1603

Web Title

SMITH, Sir Thomas (1513-77)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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