Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent facts for kids
Charles Grey (born in the 1540s, died on September 26, 1623) was an important person in England. He held the title of Earl of Kent from 1615 until his death. An Earl was a high-ranking noble, often owning a lot of land and having influence in their area.
Who Was Charles Grey?
Charles Grey was a member of a very old and important family in England. He was born sometime in the 1540s. His father was Henry Grey (1520–1545), and his mother was Margaret St. John. His grandparents were Henry Grey, 4th Earl of Kent and Anne Blennerhassett.
His Family Life
Charles Grey was a younger brother to two other Earls of Kent: Reginald Grey, 5th Earl of Kent and Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent. This means the title of Earl of Kent passed through his family.
He married a woman named Susan Cotton, who was the daughter of Sir Richard Cotton. Charles and Susan had two children together:
- Henry Grey, 8th Earl of Kent (born around 1583, died in 1639). He would later become the 8th Earl of Kent.
- Susan Grey (buried on December 13, 1620). She married Sir Michael Longueville. They were the parents of Charles Longueville, 12th Baron Grey de Ruthyn.
His Important Job
From 1615 until he died in 1623, Charles Grey held a very important position. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. A Lord Lieutenant was like the King's main representative in a specific county. Their job was to organize the local militia (a group of citizens who could be called upon for defense) and keep law and order.
At first, Charles Grey was the only person holding this position for Bedfordshire. But from 1621 until his death, he shared the role with his son, Lord Grey de Ruthyn. This shows how important his family was in the region.
