Edward Unton (captain) facts for kids

Edward Unton (born around 1556 – died 1589) was an English landowner and a member of Parliament (MP). He lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

Early Life and Family

Edward Unton was the oldest son of Sir Edward Unton. His father owned Wadley House in Faringdon, which was then in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire). His mother was Anne Dudley, who was the daughter of Edward Seymour, a very important duke. Edward also had a younger brother named Henry Unton, who became a famous diplomat.

Edward Unton married twice. His first wife was Dorothy Knightley. His second wife was Catherine Hastings. Edward did not have any children. In 1582, he inherited his father's large estate and lands.

Adventures Abroad

In 1583, Edward Unton traveled to Italy. While he was there, he was arrested by the Inquisition. The Inquisition was a powerful religious court at the time. To get him released, his brother Henry had to pay a very large sum of 10,000 crowns. When Edward returned to England, he had to sell some of his inherited land to pay his brother back.

A Career in Politics

Edward Unton became involved in politics. In 1584, he was chosen to be a knight of the shire for Berkshire. This meant he represented Berkshire in the English Parliament. He was elected again in 1586, continuing his role as a Member of Parliament.

Military Service and Later Life

In 1587, Edward Unton went to Munster, a region in Ireland, as a colonist. However, he was called back to England because of a big threat: the Spanish Armada. This was a huge fleet of Spanish ships planning to invade England.

After the Armada threat, Edward became a captain in the English army. He joined an expedition to Portugal, which is sometimes called the English Armada. This mission was led by a famous soldier named Sir John Norreys. Edward returned from this expedition in poor health. He died in 1589. His brother Henry inherited his estates.