Oliver St John, 1st Baron St John of Bletso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver St John
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| Baron St John of Bletso | |
Oliver St John, 1st Baron St John of Bletso by Arnold Bronckorst, 1578
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| Born | c. 1522 Bletsoe, Bedfordshire |
| Died | 21 April 1582 (aged 59–60) |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Fisher Elizabeth Chamber |
| Issue | John St John, 2nd Baron St John of Bletso Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso Thomas St John Francis St John Martha St John Judith St John Margaret St John Anne St John Margery St John Agnes St John |
| Father | Sir John St John |
| Mother | Margaret Waldegrave |
| Occupation | English peer |
Oliver St John of Bletsoe, 1st Baron St John of Bletso (born around 1522 – died April 21, 1582) was an important English nobleman. He held a special title called a "peerage," which meant he was part of the country's highest social rank.
Who Was Oliver St John?
Oliver St John was the son of Sir John St John (Bedfordshire MP) and his first wife, Margaret Waldegrave. His family came from places like Bletsoe in Bedfordshire.
In 1559, Oliver St John was given the special title of Baron St John of Bletso. This made him a "peer," which meant he could take part in the Parliament and advise the monarch.
His Important Jobs
Oliver St John had many important roles during his life. He worked for Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VI. When Edward became king in 1547, Oliver joined the royal household.
He was chosen to represent Bedfordshire in Parliament in 1547. He also served as the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1551. From 1560 to 1569, he was the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. This job meant he was the Queen's main representative in the county.
Here are some of the other roles he held:
- He was a special assistant in Prince Edward's household.
- He helped with royal duties in the king's household.
- He was a "Commissioner" for various tasks, like checking on soldiers (musters) and church matters.
- He was a Justice of the Peace in several counties. This meant he helped keep law and order.
- He was also the "Custos rotulorum" for Bedfordshire, which meant he was in charge of keeping important county records.
His Family Life
Lord St John of Bletso was married two times.
His first marriage was to Agnes Fisher. They had a large family together, with four sons and six daughters:
- John St John, 2nd Baron St John of Bletso
- Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso
- Thomas St John
- Francis St John
- Martha St John
- Judith St John
- Margaret St John
- Anne St John
- Margery St John
- Agnes St John
Later, he married Elizabeth Chamber. She had been married before and had children from her previous marriages.
His Passing
Oliver St John passed away on April 21, 1582. After his death, his oldest son, John, took over his title as Baron St John of Bletso.
