John Wolley (MP) facts for kids

Sir John Wolley (died 1596) was an important person in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as her Latin Secretary, which meant he handled official letters written in Latin. He was also a member of her Privy Council, a group of trusted advisors. Sir John Wolley was also a Member of Parliament, representing different areas from 1571 until he died in 1596.

Sir John Wolley's Family Background

John Wolley came from a family that had lived in Dorset, England, for a long time. His father was John Wolley of Leigh, Dorset. His mother was Edith Buckler. Edith's brother, Sir Walter Buckler, was also important. He worked for King Henry VIII and later for the future Queen Elizabeth I.

John Wolley had a sister named Eleanor. She married Edmond Hardy and had two sons and a daughter. Eleanor was a widow when John Wolley wrote his will in 1596.

Sir John Wolley's Career and Achievements

In 1553, John Wolley became a Fellow at Merton College, Oxford. He earned several university degrees there. By 1563, he was working for Queen Elizabeth. He was known for his learning and speaking skills. In 1568, he became the Queen's Latin Secretary. This was a very important job, as Latin was the language of international diplomacy and scholarship at the time.

Wolley first became a Member of Parliament in 1571. He represented different places like East Looe, Weymouth, and Dorset. He continued to serve in Parliament for the rest of his life.

In 1577, Queen Elizabeth made Wolley the Dean of Carlisle. This was unusual because he was not a church official. In 1586, the Queen sent him to Scotland. His mission was to assure King James VI that his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was being treated well while imprisoned in England.

Soon after, Wolley joined the Privy Council in September 1586. A month later, he was one of the officials who tried Mary, Queen of Scots. She was found guilty. After Mary's execution, Wolley was part of the group that investigated another official, William Davison, about how Mary's death warrant was handled.

In 1589, Wolley became the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. This was a high honor related to England's most important knightly order. He also became a member of the Court of High Commission in 1590, which dealt with church matters. In 1592, he was knighted, becoming Sir John Wolley.

Sir John Wolley was interested in books and writing. Several books were dedicated to him, showing he supported writers. He signed his will on February 26, 1596, and died two days later at his home in Pyrford. He was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral. Later, his body, along with his wife and son, was moved to a grand monument built in their memory.

Sir John Wolley's Marriages and Family

Sir John Wolley married twice. His first wife was Jane Sanderson.

His second marriage was in 1577 to Elizabeth More. Elizabeth was one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting. She was the daughter of Sir William More of Loseley, Surrey. Elizabeth had been married before.

Sir John and Elizabeth had one son, Sir Francis Wolley (1583–1609). Queen Elizabeth herself was his godmother. After Sir John Wolley died, his widow Elizabeth married Lord Chancellor Egerton, another very important person in the Queen's government.