John Salusbury (died 1540s) facts for kids
John Salusbury (born before 1485 – died between 1547 and 1549) was an important Welsh person who worked for the King and was involved in politics. He was a member of the well-known Salusbury family.
He was a younger son of Sir Thomas Salusbury, who lived at Lleweni Hall in Denbighshire, Wales.
Contents
Early Life and Royal Service
John Salusbury started working for the King very early in his life.
- By 1506, he was a Groom of the Chamber. This meant he was a trusted helper to the King, working closely with him in his private rooms.
- By 1509, he became a Sewer. This was another important role in the royal household, often involving serving food at the King's table.
Managing Castles and Royal Duties
As he grew older, John Salusbury took on more important jobs for the King.
- By 1526, he was in charge of Conwy Castle in Caernarvonshire. Being a Constable meant he was responsible for the castle's safety and its soldiers.
- By 1530, he became an Esquire of the Body. This was a very close and personal role, meaning he was a senior attendant to the King, helping him with daily tasks and often acting as a bodyguard.
- From 1530 to 1536, he was the Constable of Denbigh Castle, another important castle in Wales.
Political Career and Public Service
John Salusbury held many important government jobs that helped manage different parts of Wales and even Ireland.
Working for the Government
He was involved in several key roles that shaped how the country was run.
- In 1535, he became a member of the Council of Ireland. This group helped the King govern Ireland.
- From August 1536 until his death, he was the chancellor and chamberlain for the new county of Denbighshire. Before this, he was the Steward for the area. These roles meant he was in charge of the county's money and legal matters.
Law and Order Roles
John Salusbury also played a big part in keeping law and order.
- In 1540–41, he was chosen as the very first High Sheriff of Denbighshire. A High Sheriff was a top official responsible for law enforcement in the county.
- From 1543 until he died, he served as a Justice of the Peace. This meant he helped keep the peace and dealt with smaller legal cases.
- He was also a Custos Rotulorum for Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. This important job meant he was the chief keeper of the county's records.
Member of Parliament
In 1542, John Salusbury made history in politics.
- He was elected as the first knight of the shire (which is like being a Member of Parliament, or MP) for the newly formed Denbighshire in the Parliament of England. This meant he represented his county in the country's main law-making body.
Family Life
John Salusbury was married and had at least two sons. His family continued to be important in Welsh society. One of his later family members was John Salesbury (who also became an MP), and John's son was Robert Salesbury (also an MP). They were all part of the well-known Salusbury family of Rug.
