Herbert Croft (died 1629) facts for kids

Sir Herbert Croft (1565 – 1 April 1629) was an important English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, many times between 1589 and 1614. He came from a well-known family and had a long career in public service.

Early Life and Education

Herbert Croft was born in 1565. He was the oldest son of Edward Croft, whose family lived at Croft Castle. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university.

A Career in Politics

Sir Herbert Croft began his political career in 1589. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthenshire. An MP is someone chosen to represent an area in the House of Commons.

Important Roles

Croft held many important jobs. From 1591, he was a J.P. for Carmarthenshire and Herefordshire. A J.P. helps keep law and order in their local area. Around 1592, he became a steward for several important lands. This meant he managed these lands for the Crown.

Serving in Parliament

In 1593, Croft was elected MP for Herefordshire. He took over his family's estates in 1594 after his grandfather, James Croft, passed away. He was elected MP for Launceston in 1597. He also became a Deputy Lieutenant, helping the main lieutenant of the county.

From 1599 to 1604, he was a receiver-general for South Wales. This role involved collecting money for the government. He was elected MP for Herefordshire again in 1601 and joined the council in the marches of Wales. This council helped govern the areas near the border of England and Wales. In 1603, he was made a knight, which meant he was given the title "Sir."

Challenges and Later Years

In 1604, Sir Herbert Croft was re-elected MP for Herefordshire. However, in 1607, he spoke out against the council in the marches of Wales. This caused him to lose his place on the council and his other positions. Despite this, he was re-elected MP for Herefordshire in 1614.

Around 1617, Sir Herbert Croft made a big life change. He became a Catholic and later a monk. He joined a monastery in Douai, where he wrote books to explain his new faith. He passed away on April 1, 1629, at about 63 years old.

Family Life

Sir Herbert Croft married Mary Bourne. They had four sons and five daughters.

Notable Children

One of his sons, also named Herbert, later became the Bishop of Hereford.

His daughter, Bridget Croft (1608-1694), never married and was buried in Hereford Cathedral. Another daughter, Margery or Margaret Croft (died 1637), worked for Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. Margaret's will showed she hoped the queen would help pay off her debts.