Richard Broughton (MP) facts for kids
Richard Broughton (1542–1604) was an important English politician and judge from Shropshire. He lived in places called Lower Broughton and Owlbury, near Bishop's Castle.
Richard Broughton was born in 1542. His father was Robert Broughton, and his mother was Jane, who came from Wales.
Richard Broughton's Career
Richard Broughton was a Member of Parliament (MP). This means he was chosen to represent people in the English Parliament, which is like today's government meeting place. He served for Stafford in 1572, and for Lichfield in 1586, 1589, and 1593.
A Life in Law
Richard Broughton was a lawyer. He became a lawyer at a famous place called the Inner Temple in 1568. He worked a lot in Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Wales.
He held many important jobs, including:
- Steward of the City of Lichfield by 1583. A steward helped manage the city.
- Deputy Justice of Chester by 1588. He helped the main judge in Chester.
- Recorder of Tamworth from about 1584 to 1598. A recorder was a judge in a town.
- Second Justice of North Wales from 1594 until 1602. He was one of the main judges for North Wales.
- Vice-Justice of Chester from 1599 to 1600.
- Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for several counties in Wales (Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Montgomeryshire, and Merionethshire) from 1594, and for Shropshire from 1596. A Justice of the Peace helps keep law and order in an area.
- Member of the Council in the Marches of Wales from about 1595 until 1602. This council helped govern the border areas between England and Wales.
Connection to the Queen
Richard Broughton was a legal helper for the family of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex. This family owned a lot of land and helped Richard in his career. He also helped manage things for the Earl's son, the 2nd Earl, when he was young. This younger Earl later became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I.
However, the 2nd Earl of Essex later had trouble with the Queen. After this, Richard Broughton lost his jobs as a judge and his place on the Welsh Marches Council in 1602. Later that year, he asked Robert Cecil, who was a top government official, for a special payment.
Family Life
Richard Broughton married Anne Bagot on June 30, 1577. Anne was the daughter of Richard Bagot from Blithfield, Staffordshire. They had a son who took over his father's properties, and a daughter.
Richard Broughton passed away in 1604.
