Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche
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Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche KG
(4 December 1506 – 28 June 1558) was an English
courtier during the reign of Edward VI
. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
between 1550 and 1551 before his appointment as Lord Chamberlain of the Household
. He was placed under house arrest for his support of Lady Jane Grey
as Edward's successor.
, he became the ward of Sir John Raynsford following his father's death in 1508. He had married Raynsford's daughter Audrey in 1521. She died childless in 1527 and he later married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
and Elizabeth Trussell
. They had five or eight children, including John, who succeeded as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche. He married Frances, daughter of Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
, and they had issue, including Thomas, 3rd Baron and 1st Earl Rivers
.
in 1532, and sat in parliament for Essex
in 1539, 1545 and 1547, and possibly in 1536. Following the death of the Earl of Oxford in 1540, he held offices usually held by the de Veres: Steward of St. Osyth's, Keeper of Colchester Castle
and Keeper of Tendring Hundred. His position in court was assisted though his relations with the de Veres and his cousin, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
. He was appointed a Carver of the King's Table in 1540, a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber by 1544, and a Principal Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1949. He was sworn of the Privy Council
on 24 January 1550, and on 2 February he was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. On 5 April 1551, he was created Baron Darcy of Chiche to serve as Lord Chamberlain of the Household
, and in this role he led a commission to reform the revenue courts. He was elected to the Order of the Garter
on 6 October.
He was one of the signatories to the letters patent
enabling Lady Jane Grey
to succeed Edward VI
, and this support led to his house arrest
by Mary I
. He was pardoned, but lost his offices and council membership.
He died on 28 June 1558 at Wivenhoe
in Essex
and was buried at St Osyth's Priory. He was succeeded by his eldest son John as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(4 December 1506 – 28 June 1558) was an English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
courtier during the reign of Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
between 1550 and 1551 before his appointment as Lord Chamberlain of the Household
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
. He was placed under house arrest for his support of Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
as Edward's successor.
Early and family life
Born in 1506 to Roger Darcy and this wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry WentworthHenry Wentworth
Sir Henry Wentworth of Nettlestead, Suffolk, KB , de jure Lord Despenser, was the grandfather of King Henry VIII's third Queen, Jane Seymour, and the great-grandfather of Jane's son, King Edward VI.-Life:Sir Henry Wentworth was born about 1448, the only son and heir of the courtier Sir Philip...
, he became the ward of Sir John Raynsford following his father's death in 1508. He had married Raynsford's daughter Audrey in 1521. She died childless in 1527 and he later married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford was an English peer and courtier.-Biography:John de Vere was the son of John de Vere and Alice Kilrington , and the great-grandson of Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford, succeeding his second cousin, John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford.Oxford was Esquire of the...
and Elizabeth Trussell
Elizabeth de Vere, Countess of Oxford
Elizabeth de Vere , Countess of Oxford was an English noblewoman. Through her mother's family, she was the 5 x great granddaughter of King Edward III.-Family and Children:...
. They had five or eight children, including John, who succeeded as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche. He married Frances, daughter of Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Sir Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich , was Lord Chancellor during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He was the founder of Felsted School with its associated alms houses in Essex in 1564....
, and they had issue, including Thomas, 3rd Baron and 1st Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers was an English title held in succession by the families of Woodville or Wydeville, Darcy and Savage. The first creation was made for Richard Woodville, 1st Baron Rivers in 1466 and remained in this family until 1491...
.
Political career
He was knightedKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1532, and sat in parliament for Essex
Essex (UK Parliament constituency)
Essex was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1290 until 1832. It elected two MPs, traditionally referred to as Knights of the Shire, to the House of Commons...
in 1539, 1545 and 1547, and possibly in 1536. Following the death of the Earl of Oxford in 1540, he held offices usually held by the de Veres: Steward of St. Osyth's, Keeper of Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle in Colchester, Essex is an example of a largely complete Norman castle. It is a Grade I listed building.-Construction:At one and a half times the size of the Tower of London's White Tower, Colchester's keep is the largest ever built in Britain and the largest surviving example in...
and Keeper of Tendring Hundred. His position in court was assisted though his relations with the de Veres and his cousin, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
. He was appointed a Carver of the King's Table in 1540, a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber by 1544, and a Principal Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1949. He was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of England
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
on 24 January 1550, and on 2 February he was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
. On 5 April 1551, he was created Baron Darcy of Chiche to serve as Lord Chamberlain of the Household
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
, and in this role he led a commission to reform the revenue courts. He was elected to the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
on 6 October.
He was one of the signatories to the letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
enabling Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
to succeed Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, and this support led to his house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
by Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
. He was pardoned, but lost his offices and council membership.
He died on 28 June 1558 at Wivenhoe
Wivenhoe
Wivenhoe is a town in north eastern Essex, England, approximately south east of Colchester. Historically Wivenhoe village, on the banks of the River Colne, and Wivenhoe Cross, on the higher ground to the north, were two separate settlements but with considerable development in the 19th century the...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and was buried at St Osyth's Priory. He was succeeded by his eldest son John as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche.