John Fortescue of Salden facts for kids
Sir John Fortescue (born around 1531 or 1533, died 23 December 1607) was an important person in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He lived at Salden Manor in Buckinghamshire. Sir John was the seventh Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, a bit like today's finance minister, serving from 1589 to 1603.
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Who Was Sir John Fortescue?
Sir John Fortescue was the son of Adrian Fortescue. He was also a second-cousin to Queen Elizabeth I, which means they shared a great-grandparent, Sir Geoffrey Boleyn. His mother was Anne Reade. His family had a long history, tracing back to Sir Richard Fortescue from Devon.
Sir John's Career and Life
Sir John Fortescue was known for being very smart and a great scholar from a young age. He was even chosen to teach Princess Elizabeth when she was young, helping her with her classical studies.
When Elizabeth became Queen, Sir John got an important job as the keeper of the great wardrobe. This meant he was in charge of all the Queen's clothes, fabrics, and other special items.
From 1572, he served in Parliament, representing different areas. In 1589, he became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a very powerful role where he managed the country's money. He also joined the Privy Council, a group of close advisors to the Queen. In 1601, he was made a knight, which gave him the title "Sir." He also held another important job as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until he died.
Because of his important jobs, Sir John became very wealthy. He bought large estates (big pieces of land) in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and had a grand household. He was very involved in public life, serving on important committees and helping the Queen explain her financial needs to Parliament.
Changes Under King James I
When King James I became king in 1603, he visited Sir John Fortescue's homes. However, Sir John believed the King's power should be limited, especially concerning appointments of Scottish people to important roles. Because of these ideas, King James removed him from his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Even though he lost that job, Sir John kept his place in Parliament and remained Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and keeper of the great wardrobe. In his role as keeper of the Great Wardrobe, he provided special fabrics and items for Queen Anne of Denmark's chapel, including cloths for communion tables, linen, Bibles, and service books.
Death and Burial
Sir John Fortescue passed away and was buried in the parish church in Mursley, Buckinghamshire. A special monument was built there to honor him.
Sir John's Family
Sir John Fortescue had six children with his first wife, Cecilia Ashfield. One of his sons, Francis Fortescue, married Grace Manners. Another son was William Fortescue of Salden. He also had a daughter, Eleanor Fortescue.
With his second wife, Alice Smith, he had another daughter named Margery Fortescue. Many of his children followed in his footsteps and held positions in Parliament, just like their father.
After Sir John's death, his widow, Alice Fortescue, sold Tickford Priory for a large sum of money. A special chair, believed to be from Sir John's house at Salden, was later found and bought by one of his descendants.
