Henry Cheke facts for kids

Henry Cheke (born around 1548, died 1586) was an important English politician. He lived in Elstow, Bedfordshire, and later in York. He was known for serving in the English Parliament.

Who Was Henry Cheke?

Henry Cheke was the oldest son of Sir John Cheke. His father was a very important person. Sir John Cheke was a tutor to King Edward VI, who was the young king of England at the time. Henry's mother was Mary, the daughter of Richard Hill.

Early Life and Family

Henry Cheke grew up in a family connected to important people. His father's role as a royal tutor meant Henry was likely well-educated. He would have learned about government and how England was run. This background probably helped him later in his own career.

A Career in Parliament

Henry Cheke became a Member of Parliament, often called an MP. An MP is a person chosen to represent an area in the Parliament of England. The Parliament was where laws were made and important decisions for the country were discussed.

Henry Cheke served as an MP for different places:

• He represented Bedford in 1571.
• He represented Bedford again in 1572.
• Later, he represented Boroughbridge in 1584.

Being an MP meant he helped make decisions for England.

Henry Cheke's Family Life

Henry Cheke was married two times. His first wife was Frances Radclyffe. She was the sister of a nobleman named Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex. Henry and Frances had five children together: two sons and three daughters.

His second wife was Frances Constable. She was from a family in York.

One of Henry's sons, named Sir Thomas Cheke, also became a Member of Parliament. Thomas Cheke later lived at a place called Pyrgo in Essex. This shows that public service was important in their family.