Richard Cornwall (died 1533) facts for kids

Sir Richard Cornwall (born around 1480, died 1533) was an important English gentleman from Berrington, Herefordshire. He served the King and was also a politician, helping to make laws for England.

Early Life and Family

Richard Cornwall was the son of Sir Thomas Cornwall, who was also from Berrington. When his father passed away in 1501, Richard took over the family's responsibilities.

By 1509, Sir Richard married Jane Milborne. She was from Tillington, Herefordshire, and Icomb, Gloucestershire. Together, they had one son and one daughter. His son, George, later took over after Sir Richard.

Serving the King

Sir Richard Cornwall was a trusted person in the court of King Henry VIII.

Roles in the Royal Court

• King's Spears: By 1510, he became one of the "King's spears." This was a group of important guards or attendants for the King.
• Esquire of the Body: By 1513, he was an Esquire of the Body. This meant he was a personal attendant to the King, helping him with daily tasks and being very close to him.

Important Royal Events

Sir Richard traveled with King Henry VIII on several important trips and meetings:

• Journey to Calais (1513): He went with the King to Calais, a French port city that was controlled by England at the time.
• Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520): He was present at a famous meeting between King Henry VIII and Francis I of France, the King of France. This event was called the Field of the Cloth of Gold because it was incredibly grand and luxurious.
• Meeting with Charles V (1520): After the meeting with the French King, Sir Richard also attended the King's meeting with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who was a very powerful ruler in Europe. This meeting took place in Gravelines.
• Knighted for Bravery (1522): Sir Richard was made a knight in 1522. This honor came after the English forces captured the town of Morlaix.

Political Career

Besides serving the King, Sir Richard Cornwall also played a big part in local and national politics.

High Sheriff of Herefordshire

He was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Herefordshire three times:

• 1507–1508
• 1519–1520
• 1526–1527

The High Sheriff was a very important local official. They were responsible for keeping law and order and managing elections in their county.

Member of Parliament

Sir Richard was also a Member (MP) for Herefordshire. This meant he represented his county in the Parliament of England, which was where laws were discussed and made. He served as an MP in:

• 1523
• 1529

Later Life

Sir Richard Cornwall passed away in 1533. He had a successful career serving both his King and his country.