Edward Chamberlain (1480–1543) facts for kids
Sir Edward Chamberlain (born around 1480, died 1543) was an important English soldier and a member of Parliament. He lived at Shirburn Castle in Oxfordshire.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Edward was the oldest son of Richard Chamberlain and Sybil Fowler. He took over his father's estate in 1497. His mother rented Shirburn Castle in 1505, and when she passed away in 1525, Edward inherited the lease.
Serving the King
Sir Edward held several important jobs for the King. He was the High Sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire twice, from 1505 to 1506 and again from 1517 to 1518. A High Sheriff was a royal official responsible for keeping the peace and enforcing laws in a county.
In 1508, he became the Keeper of Woodstock Park. The next year, in 1509, he was made an Esquire of the Body. This was a special role for a trusted attendant who served the King directly.
Military Adventures
Edward Chamberlain was also a soldier. In 1512, he led 30 men in a military trip to Biscay, a region in Spain. This trip was part of an effort to help King Ferdinand of Spain invade France, but it wasn't successful.
In 1513, he commanded a ship during battles at sea. Later that summer, he joined the royal army in northern France. He was knighted (given the title "Sir") at Tournai that same year.
Important Royal Events
Sir Edward attended many significant events with King Henry VIII. In July 1517, he was at a royal banquet in Greenwich.
In 1520, he went with King Henry VIII to two very famous meetings:
- The Field of Cloth of Gold: This was a grand meeting between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. They met to show off their wealth and power and try to make peace.
- A meeting with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor at Gravelines: This was another important meeting where King Henry VIII met with the powerful ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.
Member of Parliament
In 1529, Sir Edward Chamberlain was chosen to represent Wallingford in Parliament. This meant he helped make laws and decisions for the country.
Later Life
Sir Edward Chamberlain passed away in 1543. He was married to Cecily Verney and they had at least three sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Sir Leonard Chamberlain, took over from him. Leonard also became an important official, serving as an assistant Lieutenant of the Tower of London and later as Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.
