EGERTON, Thomas I (1540-1617), of Lincoln’s Inn, Islington, York House and Harefield, Mdx. and of Chester.

Family and Education

b. 23 Jan. 1540, illegit. s. of Sir Richard Egerton of Ridley, Cheshire by Alice Sparke. educ. Brasenose, Oxf. 1556; L. Inn 1560, called 1572. m. (1) bef. 1576, Elizabeth (d.1588), da. of Thomas Ravenscroft of Bretton, Flints., 2s. John and Thomas II 1da.; (2) privately 1597, Elizabeth (d.1600), da. of William More I, sis. of Sir George More of Loseley, wid. of Richard Polsted and John Wolley, s.p.; (3) 1600, Alice, da. of Sir John Spencer, of Althorp, Northants., wid. of Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, s.p. Kntd. 1594; cr. Baron Ellesmere 1603, Visct. Brackley 1616.CP, ii. 271-2; DNB; Campbell, Lives of the Ld. Chancellors, ii. 179-271.

Offices Held

Gov. L. Inn 1580, Lent reader 1589, treasurer 1587; solicitor-gen. 1581 – 91; member, council in the marches of Wales 1586; attorney-gen. 1592 – 94; master of the rolls 1594 – 1603; ld. keeper 6 May 1596–1603; PC 1596; ld. chancellor 1603–17.

Recorder, Lichfield 1582; steward of manors of Colham and Uxbridge 1593; steward of the lordship of Bromfield and Yale, and chief steward of Lyons castle 1595, jointly with his son, Sir John Egerton in 1607; steward of lordship of Denbigh 1594, jointly with his son 1607; supervisor-gen. of lands belonging to bpric. of Coventry and Lichfield 1596; recorder, Cambridge by 1596 – 1600, high steward 1600; jt. steward of manors of dean and chapter of Chester 1599; chamberlain of Chester 1593 – 1603; high steward, Oxford 1601; chief steward, Salisbury 1601; ld. lt. Bucks. by 1608 – 17; jt. steward and keeper of court leet and frankpledge, Tring 1608; master and gov. of chantries of Winchester 1607; chancellor, Oxf. Univ. 1610 – 17; high steward, St. Albans by c.1600–7.P. H. Williams, Council in the Marches of Wales, 348–9; Egerton Pprs. ed. Collier (Cam. Soc. xii), 192; CSP Dom. 1591–4, p. 524; 1603–10, pp. 379, 381, 447; HMC Hatfield, vi. 445; VCH Cambs. iii. 59; VCH Oxon. iii. 39; Neale, Commons, 168; T. L. Moir, Addled Parliament of 1614, p. 50; Chamberlain Letters ed. McClure, ii. 52.