Richard Long (courtier) facts for kids

A letter sent to Sir Richard Long and Michael Stanhope by King Henry VIII. It was written in Westminster on March 8, 1541 or 1542.

Sir Richard Long (c. 1494 – 1546) was an important English politician and a close friend of King Henry VIII. He worked for the King for many years in a special group called the Privy Chamber.

Richard Long was the third son of Sir Thomas Long of Draycot. His family owned land in Wiltshire. His mother was Margery Darrell.

Sir Richard Long's Career

Starting His Work

Richard Long began his career around 1512. He was part of a group working for Sir Gilbert Talbot in Calais. Calais was an English town in France at the time. By 1515, he was a "spear of Calais," a job he kept for most of his life.

It is not fully clear how he joined the King's court. But by 1528, he was working in the royal stables. By 1533, he was an "esquire of the stable." This meant he helped manage the King's horses.

Sir Richard caught the attention of Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to the King. Cromwell helped Long to be away from Calais more often. In 1532, Long's brother, Henry, thanked Cromwell for being kind to Richard.

Rising in the King's Court

In 1535, Richard Long joined the King's Privy Chamber as a "Gentleman Usher." This was a special group of people who were very close to the King. He likely got this job with Cromwell's help. He quickly became more important and gained the King's favor.

In 1537, he was made a knight. This happened on October 15 during the celebrations for the baptism of Prince Edward. Sir Richard helped carry a special canopy over the baby prince. On the same day, his relative Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset also received a special title.

In 1538, Sir Richard was given two important jobs:

• Master of the Buckhounds: This meant he was in charge of the King's hunting dogs.
• Master of the Hawks: This meant he was in charge of the King's hunting birds.

By 1539, he was a "Gentleman of the Privy Chamber." He was present when Anne of Cleves arrived in England to marry the King. He also became a Member of Parliament for Southwark that same year.

Important Missions for the King

Even after his helper Cromwell lost power, Sir Richard Long remained an important servant to the government in the 1540s. He was one of the most senior members of the Privy Chamber. Because he was so close to the King, he was often used for secret and important tasks.

In January 1541, he went to Calais to help organize things there. The French ambassador, Charles de Marillac, said Sir Richard was "a person of authority and conduct." When he returned, he was asked to arrest Sir John Wallop, a diplomat. This was a difficult mission.

Later that year, Sir Richard worked on various committees and juries. These groups dealt with important investigations involving Catherine Howard, one of the King's wives.

The government also used Sir Richard's experience in the military. In 1541, he was made governor of Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. These are islands near France. He held this job until 1545, when he retired due to illness. In 1542, he became captain of Kingston upon Hull. This gave him the power to gather soldiers if needed. He also joined the King's council in the north of England.

King Henry VIII called Sir Richard "our trusty & right well-beloved Councillor." In 1542, Sir Richard gave the King a gift of fancy purple satin stockings. The next year, the King gave Sir Richard the manor of Shingay in Cambridgeshire.

Sir Richard Long's Family

On November 10, 1541, Sir Richard married Margaret Donnington. She was the daughter of John Donnington and the widow of Sir Thomas Kitson.

Sir Richard and Margaret had one son, Henry. King Henry VIII himself was Henry's godfather in 1544. They also had three daughters: Jane, Katherine, and Mary. Sir Richard's granddaughter, Elizabeth, later married William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh.

Sir Richard received many large land grants from King Henry VIII. These lands were in places like Essex, Cambridge, and Suffolk. Because of these lands and his marriage, Sir Richard was a very rich man when he died on September 30, 1546.

His widow, Margaret, later married John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath, on December 11, 1548. She passed away on December 20, 1561, and was buried on January 12, 1562.