Heneage Finch (speaker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Heneage Finch
|
|
|---|---|
Finch wearing the scarlet robes of a serjeant-at-law.
|
|
| Speaker of the English House of Commons | |
| In office 1625–1626 |
|
| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Crewe |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Finch |
| Member of Parliament for the City of London | |
| In office 1624–1626 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert Heath |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Clitherow |
| Member of Parliament for West Looe | |
| In office 1621–1621 Serving with Christopher Harris
|
|
| Preceded by | John Harris Sir Edward Lewkenor |
| Succeeded by | George Mynn James Bagg |
| Member of Parliament for Rye | |
| In office 1610–1614 Serving with John Young
|
|
| Preceded by | Thomas Hamon |
| Succeeded by | Edward Hendon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Heneage Finch
15 December 1580 |
| Died | 5 December 1631 (aged 50) |
| Spouses |
Frances Bell
(died 1627)Elizabeth Cardock Bennett
(m. 1629) |
| Relations | Sir Thomas Finch (grandfather) Sir Thomas Heneage (grandfather) |
| Children | Earl of Nottingham, Viscountess Conway |
| Parents | Sir Moyle Finch, 1st Baronet Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Sir Heneage Finch (born December 15, 1580 – died December 5, 1631) was an important English lawyer and politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for several years. In 1626, he became the Speaker of the English House of Commons. This was a very important job in the government at that time.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Heneage Finch was born on December 15, 1580. His family home was called The Moat, near Canterbury, England. He was one of seven sons born to Sir Moyle Finch, 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Heneage.
Family Connections
Heneage was named after his mother's father, Sir Thomas Heneage. Sir Thomas was a powerful figure in the royal household. Heneage's other grandfather was Sir Thomas Finch, a well-known military leader.
After Heneage's father passed away in 1614, his mother, Lady Elizabeth Finch, gained special titles. She became a Viscountess in 1623 and then a Countess in 1628. This meant she had a high social rank on her own. When she died, her eldest son, Thomas, inherited her titles.
Education
Heneage started studying at Trinity College, Cambridge around 1592. He earned his first degree in 1596. This education prepared him for a career in law.
Political and Legal Career
After college, Heneage Finch began his legal training. He joined the Inner Temple, which is one of the four professional associations for barristers in London. He became a lawyer in 1606.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1607, Heneage was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rye. An MP is someone chosen to represent a specific area in the House of Commons. This is where laws were made. He couldn't take his seat right away, but he joined Parliament in 1610. He served until 1614.
After leaving Parliament, Finch worked for Prince Charles. Prince Charles helped him get another chance to be an MP. In 1621, he became the MP for West Looe.
Recorder of London
A few weeks after joining Parliament in 1621, Heneage Finch also became the Recorder of London. This was a very important legal position in the City of London. He held this job until he died in 1631.
Rising in the Legal World
Between 1621 and 1624, Finch's legal career grew stronger. He became a "serjeant-at-law" and was knighted in 1623. Being knighted meant he was given the title "Sir." A serjeant-at-law was a very senior type of lawyer.
Speaker of the House
Because he was the Recorder of London, Heneage Finch had a special right to represent the City of London in Parliament. He was elected MP for the City of London in 1624.
When Charles I became King, Finch was re-elected as MP for the City of London in both 1625 and 1626. In 1626, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker leads the debates and makes sure rules are followed in Parliament. This was his last term in Parliament.
Personal Life and Family
Sir Heneage Finch was married twice.
First Marriage
His first wife was Frances Bell. They married sometime after 1607. Frances was the daughter of Sir Edmond Bell. Together, they had four children:
- Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham (1620–1682): He became a very important lawyer and politician, later known as the Earl of Nottingham.
- Francis Finch (1623–1679)
- Elizabeth Finch (born 1625)
- John Finch (born 1627)
Frances passed away in 1627.
Second Marriage
On April 16, 1629, Sir Heneage married Elizabeth Cradock Bennett. Elizabeth was a widow whose first husband was a rich merchant from London. They had several children together, including:
- Frances Finch (born 1630)
- Anne Finch (1631–1679): She became a well-known philosopher.
Sir Heneage Finch died on December 5, 1631, at the age of 51, after being ill for a long time. He was buried in Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire. His second wife, Elizabeth, died in 1661.
