Ambrose Button facts for kids

Sir Ambrose Button (born around 1549, died after 1608) was an important person in English history. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Malmesbury in 1571. This means he was chosen by the people of Malmesbury to represent them in the Parliament, which is like a big meeting where laws are made for the country.

Who Was Sir Ambrose Button?

Ambrose Button was the first son of William Button, who lived from 1526 to 1591. His father was also a Member of Parliament, representing the area of Alton Priors in Wiltshire. So, serving in Parliament was something that ran in their family!

A Family Matter and the Queen

Something interesting happened in Ambrose's family. His father, William Button, decided to give his inheritance to Ambrose's younger brother, who was also named William (he died in 1599). This meant Ambrose would not receive the family's wealth or property.

This decision was quite unusual. It even caught the attention of the Privy Council, which was a group of trusted advisors to the Queen. They called William Button senior to London to explain why he had done this.

Queen Elizabeth's Opinion

The Privy Council told William Button that Queen Elizabeth I herself "much disliked" his decision. They also said that Ambrose was "known to some at court to be of very good behaviour." This meant that people at the Queen's court thought Ambrose was a good and respectable person. They even suggested he might be a better choice than his younger brother.

However, even with the Queen's disapproval, the father's decision was not changed. Ambrose did not get his inheritance back.

Becoming a Knight

Later in his life, Ambrose Button received a special honor. In 1605, he was made a knight at Greenwich. This means he was given the title "Sir" before his name, recognizing his service or importance.

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