Richard Tempest facts for kids

Sir Richard Tempest was an important English person who lived a long time ago (from about 1480 to 1537). He owned land, worked for the King, was a soldier, and helped manage the country. He served two famous Kings, Henry VII and Henry VIII. Sadly, he was put in prison and died there after joining a big protest called the Pilgrimage of Grace.

Richard's Early Life and Family

Richard Tempest came from a very old and important family in Yorkshire. His family had owned land there since the time of King Henry I. Their main home was in a village called Bracewell.

Richard's father, Nicholas Tempest, passed away when Richard was only about three years old. Because of this, Richard was raised by his uncle, Sir Thomas Tempest. When Richard was about 17, his uncle arranged for him to marry a young woman who was going to inherit a lot of land.

In 1502, his wife's father died, and they received his lands. Then, in 1507, his uncle passed away, and Richard inherited the family's main estate at Bracewell.

Richard's Career and Royal Service

Sir Richard Tempest held many important jobs throughout his life. He helped manage different areas for the King.

Local Government Roles

By 1505, Richard started working for the Duchy of Lancaster, which managed the King's lands. He became a steward in Bradford. Over the years, he took on more stewardship roles in places like Blackburn (1511), Rochdale (1527), Wakefield (1530), and Barnoldswick (1537).

He also managed land for important nobles. By 1526, he was the main forester for the Forest of Bowland. He also became the keeper of Quernmore Park in 1527 and the constable of Sandal Castle by 1530.

From 1511, he served as a justice of the peace (JP) for the West Riding of Yorkshire. This meant he helped keep law and order. Later, he became a JP for the East Riding (1530) and North Riding (1536) of Yorkshire too. As a JP, he was involved in many important tasks, like organizing soldiers and collecting taxes. In 1516, he was the high sheriff of Yorkshire, a very important local official.

Working for the King

Richard Tempest also worked directly for the King. He was an esquire of the body for King Henry VII, which meant he was a personal attendant to the King. He was present at King Henry VII's funeral in 1509.

When King Henry VIII had a son in 1511, Richard took part in the jousting celebrations. In 1513, when England went to war with France, Richard went with King Henry VIII. He was made a knight during the Siege of Tournai.

In 1520, he was at a famous meeting between King Henry VIII and King Francis I of France called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Richard was one of three knights in charge of security for this big event. He was also present when King Henry met the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Gravelines.

National Politics

In 1529, Richard Tempest was chosen to be a member of the Parliament of England for Appleby. This meant he helped make laws for the country.

Richard's Later Life and Challenges

Even though Sir Richard held many important jobs, his behavior was not always perfect. There were some complaints about him.

His life took a difficult turn in 1536. He joined a large protest movement called the Pilgrimage of Grace. He became a captain in the rebel forces. After his younger brother, Nicholas, was executed in May 1537, Richard was sent to the Fleet Prison in London. He died there in prison.

His will, a document stating what should happen to his property, was made in January 1536 and officially approved in January 1538. His eldest son, Thomas, inherited his property.

Richard's Family

Sir Richard Tempest was married to Rosamund Bowling in 1497. She was the only child of Tristram Bowling and inherited his lands. Rosamund lived longer than Richard, passing away in 1554.

Richard and Rosamund had several children who grew up and married:

• Sir Thomas: He was also a sheriff of Yorkshire. He married Margaret and passed away in 1545 without having children.
• Sir John: He inherited from his older brother and was also a sheriff of Yorkshire. He married Anne and passed away in 1565 without having children.
• Nicholas: He inherited the Bracewell estate after his two older brothers passed away. He married twice and had two sons, Richard and Robert.
• Tristram: He married Alice Methley.
• Henry: He married Helen Mirfield and inherited her family's estate.
• Elizabeth: Around 1533, she married Sir Peter Frescheville, who was the sheriff of Derbyshire.
• Jane: Before 1526, she married Sir Thomas Waterton, who was also a Member of Parliament and sheriff of Yorkshire.
• Anne: She married John Lacy.
• Beatrice: She married William Gascoigne.
• Christopher, George, and Robert: These sons passed away without having children.