Anthony Wingfield (MP for Ripon) facts for kids

Anthony Wingfield (born around 1550, died around 1615) was an important English scholar and politician. He was known for teaching Greek to Queen Elizabeth I. He also served as a Member of Parliament.

Life

Anthony Wingfield was born around 1550. He was the third son of Richard Wingfield. His family had many important people. In 1569, he started studying at Trinity College, Cambridge. He also began studying law at Gray's Inn in 1572. In 1573, he became a scholar at Trinity College. He earned his first university degree (B.A.) in 1573-1574. He became a fellow (a senior member) of his college in 1576. He then earned his master's degree (M.A.) in 1577.

Anthony Wingfield became the Greek teacher for Queen Elizabeth I. This might have been because his uncle, also named Anthony Wingfield, worked for the Queen. On March 16, 1581, he was chosen as the public orator at Cambridge University. This person gave official speeches for the university. In 1582, he traveled to Denmark with Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. He was appointed proctor (a university official) at Cambridge in October of that year.

On March 21, 1589, the university allowed him to leave for a trip abroad. He was working for the Queen. He had to find someone to take his place as public orator. He officially left that job on September 25, 1589. In January 1593, the Archbishop of York asked for Wingfield to be elected to Parliament. In February, he was elected to represent the town of Ripon.

Later, around the end of Queen Elizabeth's rule, Wingfield became a tutor. He taught William and Charles Cavendish. They were the sons of Sir Charles Cavendish.

Works

Anthony Wingfield wrote some Latin letters. These were published in a collection called Epistolæ Academiæ. He also wrote Latin poems for a university collection. These poems were about the death of Sir Philip Sidney. Wingfield also wrote a famous short poem called "The Peer Content." This poem was meant for Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.

There was a Latin play called Pedantius, published in 1631. It made fun of Gabriel Harvey. Some people think Wingfield might have helped write it. This play may have come from a competition for the public orator job at Cambridge in 1581. Wingfield won that competition against Harvey.