Sir Gregory Norton, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Gregory Norton, 1st Baronet (born 1603 – died 26 March 1652) was an English politician. He was a member of the House of Commons from 1645 until his death in 1652. Sir Gregory Norton supported the Parliamentary side during the English Civil War. He was also one of the people who signed the document leading to the execution of King Charles I.

Early Life and Family

Sir Gregory Norton was born in 1603. He was the oldest living son of Henry Norton. His father was from Wantage in Berkshire, England. Gregory likely grew up in Ireland. His father worked there in a government job.

Around 1621, Gregory Norton married Martha Gunter. After his marriage, he gained land in Sussex, England. In 1624, he was given the title of a baronet. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in the family. During the 1630s, Norton worked as a minor official for King Charles I's court.

Role in the English Civil War

When the First Civil War began, Sir Gregory Norton supported Parliament. His friend and fellow courtier, Humphrey Edwards, also supported Parliament. Norton became very active in local government. He worked in Sussex and on the Isle of Wight.

In October 1645, he was elected to Parliament. He became a recruiter Member of Parliament for Midhurst in Sussex. A "recruiter MP" was a new member elected during the war. Norton was known as a "radical Independent." This meant he had strong beliefs about how the country should be run. He was especially interested in matters concerning Ireland.

The King's Trial

Sir Gregory Norton played an important part in the legal actions against King Charles I. This happened in 1649. He was a member of the High Court of Justice. This special court was set up to try the King. Norton was one of the people who signed the document that led to the King's death.

Later Life and Death

After the King's execution, England became a republic called the Commonwealth. Sir Gregory Norton was connected with Henry Marten. Marten was another republican leader.

However, Norton also faced some questions. People suspected he was making too much money. This was from selling properties that belonged to Royalists. These properties had been taken by the government. Sir Gregory Norton died in 1652.

Family After His Death

Sir Gregory Norton had a son named Henry. Gregory did not want Henry to inherit his property. This was because Henry disagreed with the trial and execution of the King. However, Henry did inherit the baronet title when his father passed away.