Nicholas Saunders (died 1649) facts for kids

Sir Nicholas Saunders (born 1563 – died February 9, 1649) was an English landowner. He also served as a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for the country. He started as a Catholic but later joined the Church of England. Sir Nicholas faced money problems and had to sell some of his land. We know a lot about his later life because his daughter, Isabella Twysden, kept a diary.

Sir Nicholas Saunders' Life

Early Years and Education

Nicholas Saunders was the oldest son of Nicholas Saunders of Ewell, Surrey. His mother was Isabel Carew. Isabel's father, Sir Nicholas Carew, faced serious accusations against the king in 1539.

Young Nicholas went to Balliol College, Oxford for his studies. He also trained to be a lawyer at the Inner Temple in 1583. For part of his childhood, he lived with William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. Lord Burghley remained a good friend to Nicholas throughout his life.

Changes in Faith

Nicholas became the head of his family's estates in 1587. He was made a knight in 1603. When he was younger, Nicholas was a strong Roman Catholic, just like his father and his wife. In 1585, he was noted for not attending Church of England services. However, he didn't face any punishment, possibly because of his friendship with Lord Burghley.

After his father passed away, Nicholas decided to join the Church of England. He even helped a group that was working to limit the influence of Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, in 1591. His wife, however, remained openly Catholic. This sometimes made people wonder if Nicholas was truly committed to the Protestant faith.

Public Service and Challenges

In 1596, Nicholas Saunders took part in the Capture of Cadiz, a military event. On the way there, he was briefly arrested because of money he owed.

He served as a Member of Parliament several times. He represented Haslemere in 1593. Later, he was an MP for Gatton in 1604. His last term was for Winchelsea in 1626. During the Parliament of 1604-11, he was very active and worked hard on many committees.

Financial Difficulties

Nicholas Saunders struggled with money for most of his adult life. Between 1591 and 1601, he sold three large estates. In 1638, he even had to sell his family home in Ewell. He blamed "bad actions by others" for his problems. However, he also got involved in some risky money-making plans. One example was a project to supply London with drinking water, which didn't work out well.

It is not known if he took part in the English Civil War. Nicholas Saunders passed away on February 9, 1649. He died at Nonesuch Palace, where he had lived since selling Ewell. He reportedly had no money left when he died. He was buried next to his wife by torchlight.

Family Life

Nicholas Saunders married Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Richard Blount. Elizabeth brought a good amount of money into the marriage, but Nicholas seemed to spend it all.

They had a son named Henry and three daughters. One of their daughters was Isabella Twysden. Isabella married Sir Roger Twysden, 2nd Baronet. Isabella was known as "a lady of rare patience and prudence." She kept a diary from 1645 to 1651. In her diary, she wrote about her father's final days.