Giles Poole facts for kids
Sir Giles Poole (died 1589) was an English landowner and politician. He owned land and played a role in the government during the time of Tudor monarchs like Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.
He was the oldest son of Leonard Poole of Sapperton. His mother was Catherine, the daughter of Sir Giles Brydges. Sir Giles Poole also had a younger brother named Henry Poole.
Sir Giles Poole first married Elizabeth, who was one of six daughters of Thomas Whittington of Pauntley. They had a son named Henry.
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Early Career and Military Service
Because of his first wife's family, Sir Giles Poole became a gentleman pensioner in 1540. A gentleman pensioner was a bodyguard for the king or queen.
He also served in the army. He fought in France in 1544 and in the northern parts of England between 1547 and 1548. For his service, he was knighted in 1547. This meant he received the title "Sir."
Local Government Roles
After being knighted, Sir Giles Poole became a Justice of the Peace (JP) in Gloucestershire. A JP was a local official who helped keep law and order.
He also served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1565 and 1566. The sheriff was a very important local official, responsible for enforcing laws and managing elections. He held several other local government jobs too.
Political Life in Parliament
Sir Giles Poole was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucestershire. This meant he was chosen to represent his area in the English Parliament, which is like a country's main law-making body.
He served in Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. In 1558, he was also appointed as a provost marshal for Ireland. A provost marshal was a military police officer.
Later, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, he continued to serve in Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1559 and again in 1571.
Family and Legacy
Sir Giles Poole married a second time to Eleanor. She was the daughter of Edward Lewknor and the widow of Sir William Wroughton. Interestingly, Sir Giles's son, Henry, married Eleanor's step-daughter, Anne. This connected the families even more.
Sir Giles Poole passed away in 1589. His will, which is a legal document about his wishes after death, mentions a special funeral monument he had built at Sapperton. It is believed that the stone figure on this tomb, dated 1574, represents Sir Giles Poole himself.
