Christopher Hales facts for kids

Sir Christopher Hales was an important English judge who lived in the 1500s. He held a very significant job called Master of the Rolls. This role meant he was in charge of keeping important government records and also served as a judge. He passed away in 1541.

About Christopher Hales

Christopher Hales came from a very old family. His family's name came from a place called Hales in Norfolk, England. They had lived there since the time of King Henry II. Later, his family moved to Kent.

Christopher Hales was the son of Thomas Hales. His mother was Alicia Eveas. He studied law at a famous place called Gray's Inn. He became a senior lawyer there in 1516.

His Career as a Lawyer and Judge

Christopher Hales became the King's lawyer, known as the solicitor-general, in 1525. A few years later, in 1529, he became the attorney-general. This was a very powerful position.

During his time as attorney-general, he was involved in many important legal cases for King Henry VIII. He worked on trials involving some very famous people of that time.

In 1536, Christopher Hales got an even bigger job. He became the Master of the Rolls. He held this position for the last five years of his life. Soon after becoming Master of the Rolls, he was made a knight.

Sir Christopher Hales also helped change Canterbury Cathedral in 1540. He worked with important people like Thomas Cranmer to replace the monks there with other clergy. He also gained a lot of land in Kent that used to belong to monasteries. This happened during a time called the dissolution of the monasteries, when many monasteries were closed down.

Sir Christopher Hales died in June 1541. He was buried near Canterbury.

His Family and Children

Sir Christopher Hales married Elizabeth Caunton. She was the daughter of John Caunton, a well-known person from London.

Together, they had one son and three daughters:

• Their son, John, sadly died when he was only fourteen years old in 1546.
• Their daughter Elizabeth Hales married two times. Her second husband was Sir George Sydenham. Elizabeth and Sir George had a daughter named Elizabeth. This younger Elizabeth later married the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake.
• Their daughter Margaret Hales married three times. Her husbands were Lewis West, Ralph Dodmore, and William Horden.
• Their daughter Mary Hales also married two times. Her first husband was Alexander Culpeper, and her second was Thomas Arundell.