Henry Hastings (MP) facts for kids

Sir Henry Hastings (who died in 1629) was an English politician. A politician is someone who works in government, helping to make decisions for the country. Sir Henry was a member of the House of Commons, which is a very important part of the English Parliament. He served there at different times between 1601 and 1626.

Who Was Sir Henry Hastings?

It can be a bit confusing, but there were actually two people named Henry Hastings living at the same time in Leicestershire, England. Both of them could have been the politician we are talking about!

One of these Henry Hastings was the son of Sir Edward Hastings. The other was the son of Walter Hastings. One of them studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and the other went to Lincoln College, Oxford. Both men were given the special title of "Sir" (knighted) in 1603, and they both lived close to the city of Leicester.

His Political Journey

Sir Henry Hastings was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (often called an MP) for Leicestershire. An MP is like a representative who speaks for the people of their area in Parliament. He was first elected in 1601.

He was re-elected as an MP for Leicestershire several times. This shows that people trusted him to represent them. He served again in 1621, 1624, and 1626.

Besides being an MP, Sir Henry also held other important jobs. By 1606, he was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.). A J.P. helps keep law and order in their local area. In 1607 and 1608, he was appointed High Sheriff of Leicestershire. The High Sheriff was a very important official responsible for law enforcement and other duties in the county.

Family Life

Sir Henry Hastings married a woman named Mabel Faunt. Her father was Anthony Faunt, who lived in Foston, Leicestershire. Sir Henry and Mabel had a family with four sons and three daughters.