Sir Thomas Bishopp, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Thomas Bishopp (1550–1626) was an important English politician. He was also known as Bishop or Bisshopp. He became the first Baronet of Parham, a special title given by the King.

Early Life and Family Connections

Thomas Bishopp was the only son of Thomas Bishop and Elizabeth Belknap. His family lived in a place called Henfield in Sussex, England. He went to college at St John's College, Oxford, and later studied law.

His mother's father, Sir Edward Belknap, was a very active person. He fought for King Henry VII and had a powerful job. He could take land and property for the King. When Thomas's parents married, they gained a lot of land in Sussex.

When Thomas Bishopp was only 10 years old, his father passed away. Thomas inherited many properties, including a large farm with 1,000 sheep! Because he was so young, he needed a guardian. He became the ward of two very rich and powerful men: Sir Richard Sackville and later his son, Thomas Sackville. The Sackville family was close to Queen Elizabeth I. This connection helped Thomas Bishopp a lot in his career.

A Career in Public Service

From 1578 until he died, Thomas Bishopp worked as a Justice of the Peace in Sussex. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. People thought he was a "good justice" even when he was young.

He also served as the High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex twice. The High Sheriff was a very important local official, like a chief law enforcement officer for the county.

Serving in Parliament

Thanks to his connections with the Sackville family and other powerful people like Lord Burghley, Thomas Bishopp became a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the country's government. He was an MP for Gatton in 1584, and then for Steyning in 1586 and 1604.

New Titles and Family

In 1597, Sir Thomas Bishopp bought a large estate called Parham House in Sussex. This became his family home.

When King James I became king in 1603, he made Thomas Bishopp a knight. This was a great honor! Later, in 1620, when he was almost 70 years old, King James I gave him an even higher title: Baronet Bishopp of Parham. This title could be passed down through his family.

Sir Thomas Bishopp married twice. First, he married Anne Cromer. Later, he married Jane Weston. His oldest son, Sir Edward Bishopp, 2nd Baronet, inherited his title. His second son, Henry Bishopp, became a very important person too. Henry was a Postmaster General of England and invented the first postmark used on mail!