Mark Steward facts for kids
Sir Mark Steward (born 1524, died 1604) was an important person in English history. He lived in places like Heckfield in Hampshire and Stuntney in Cambridgeshire. Sir Mark was a Member of Parliament, which means he was chosen to represent people and help make laws for the country. He served in Parliament for Stockbridge in 1597 and for St Ives from 1588 to 1589. He received the special title of "Sir" when he was knighted in 1603.
Who Was Sir Mark Steward?
Sir Mark Steward was born in 1524. He was the third son of Simeon Steward from Lakenheath in Suffolk. His mother was Joan Besteney. Her family came from Soham in Cambridgeshire. The Steward family had lived in the East Anglia area of England since the 1400s.
Sir Mark had some famous uncles. One was Robert Steward, who was the Dean of Ely. A Dean is a very important leader in a cathedral. Another uncle, Edmund Steward, was the Dean of Winchester. One more uncle was a pastor for an English group in Frankfurt, Germany. He even worked with a famous religious leader named John Knox.
Sir Mark's Journey
Because Sir Mark was a younger son, he did not inherit land or money from his father. This meant he had to work hard to build his own career and make a name for himself. He became a Member of Parliament, which was a big achievement.
His Family Life
Sir Mark Steward married a woman named Anna Huick. Her father was Robert Huick, who was also a Member of Parliament. Robert Huick was a doctor to Queen Elizabeth I.
Sir Mark and Anna had two children:
- Sir Simon Steward (1575–1632), who also became a Member of Parliament. He lived at Stuntney.
- Mary Steward, who married Sir William Forster. Their son was Sir Humphrey Forster.
His Final Years
Sir Mark Steward passed away in March 1604. He was buried in Ely Cathedral. You can still see his beautiful monument there today. It has a statue of him lying down.
His uncle, Robert Steward, had a special connection to Ely Cathedral. He was the last leader of Ely Abbey before the monasteries were closed down by the King. After that, he became the very first Dean of Ely Cathedral.
Sir Mark's home in Stuntney was eventually inherited by his cousin, Elizabeth Steward. Her son was Oliver Cromwell, who later became a very powerful leader in England known as the Lord Protector.
