John Throckmorton (died 1580) facts for kids

Monument showing Sir John Throckmorton and his wife Margaret Puttenham

Monument showing Sir John Throckmorton and his wife Margaret Puttenham, drawn by Wenceslaus Hollar

The Throckmorton family coat of arms

Sir John Throckmorton (born by 1524 – died 1580) was an important lawyer and politician in England. He served in the English Parliament during the time of Queen Mary I. He was also a witness to Queen Mary's will, which means he was present when she signed it.

Sir John Throckmorton's Life and Career

Early Life and Family Connections

John Throckmorton was the seventh son of Sir George Throckmorton (died 1552). His family lived at Coughton Court in Warwickshire, England. He studied law and became a barrister at the Inner Temple, a famous legal society.

His mother, Katherine Vaux, was the half-sister of Sir Thomas Parr. This made John a cousin to Queen Catherine Parr, who was one of King Henry VIII's wives.

John married Margaret, whose brother was George Puttenham. George Puttenham is thought to have written an important book about English poetry. Margaret also had connections to the powerful Grey family in Leicestershire.

Political Roles and Legal Work

Sir John Throckmorton served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for several areas. He was an MP for Leicester in 1545 and Camelford in 1547. He also represented Warwick in 1553 and Old Sarum later that year.

He was an MP for Coventry four times between 1554 and 1559. In 1547, he became the first High Steward of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. This was after the town received its special Royal Charter in 1528.

With help from a powerful supporter, the Duke of Northumberland, John became a lawyer for the Council in the Marches of Wales in 1550. He held many other legal jobs, including Recorder (a type of judge) for towns like Coventry, Worcester, and Shrewsbury. During Queen Mary I's reign (1553–1558), he was one of the two Masters of Requests. This role involved handling petitions and requests from people to the monarch.

He was made a knight in 1565. However, his career later faced difficulties. He was found to have made a legal decision that unfairly favored a family member. This led to problems in his career.

Family Connections and Historical Events

Sir John Throckmorton is often remembered because of his family members. They were involved in some important historical events:

• His brother Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (1515–1571) was connected to the Wyatt Rebellion in 1554. This was a rebellion against Queen Mary I.
• His oldest brother was Sir Robert Throckmorton (1513–1581) of Coughton.
• Another relative, John Throckmorton of Tortworth, Gloucestershire, was an MP for Wootton Bassett. He faced serious consequences for his involvement in the Dudley conspiracy of 1555.
• Sir John's son, Francis Throckmorton, was involved in a plan known as the Throckmorton Plot of 1584. He faced serious consequences for his part in this plot.