Sir Thomas Monson, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Thomas Monson
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Sir Thomas Monson aged 47, 1610, by an unknown English artist.
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| Member of the English Parliament for Lincolnshire |
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| In office 1597–1598 Serving with William Pelham
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| Preceded by | Sir Edward Dymoke George St Paul |
| Succeeded by | John Sheffield William Wray |
| Member of the English Parliament for Castle Rising |
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| In office 1604–1611 Serving with Sir Robert Townshend
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| Preceded by | John Peyton Robert Townshend |
| Succeeded by | Sir Robert Wynde Thomas Byng |
| Member of the English Parliament for Cricklade |
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| In office 1614–1614 Serving with Sir John Eyre
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| Preceded by | Sir John Hungerford Sir Henry Poole |
| Succeeded by | Sir Thomas Howard Sir Carew Reynell |
Sir Thomas Monson (born 1565, died 1641) was an important English politician. He was a strong supporter of King James I. He was also the first person in his family to be given the special title of Baronet.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sir Thomas Monson was born in 1565. His father was Sir John Monson. The family lived in a place called South Carlton in Lincolnshire, England. His father had also been an important local official called the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
Thomas had a younger brother named William. William later became a famous admiral in the Royal Navy. Thomas went to college at Magdalen College, Oxford, when he was 15 years old. After that, he studied law at Gray's Inn in 1583.
Political Career
Sir Thomas Monson started his public service in 1592. He became a Justice of the Peace, which meant he helped keep law and order in his area. In 1597, he was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, just like his father. He was probably given the title of knight that same year.
He then became a Member of Parliament (MP) several times:
- For Lincolnshire from 1597 to 1598.
- For Castle Rising from 1604 to 1611.
- For Cricklade in 1614.
Working for King James I
Sir Thomas Monson became very successful when King James I came to power. In 1603, he was made Chancellor of the lands that belonged to the King's wife, Anne of Denmark. This was a very important job.
He also held several other key positions for the King:
- Keeper of the Armoury at Greenwich.
- Master of the Armoury at the Tower of London.
- Master Falconer to the King, which meant he was in charge of the King's hunting birds.
In 1611, King James I gave him the special title of hereditary baronet. This meant the title could be passed down in his family. Sir Thomas was one of the very first people in England to receive this new honor.
Challenges and Reputation
In 1615, Sir Thomas faced a difficult situation. Because of his important role at the Tower of London, he was involved in a serious event. This led to his arrest and a year of being held in the Tower. Even though he was later released, this event greatly affected his reputation and his money.
Family Life
Sir Thomas Monson passed away in 1641. He was buried in South Carlton, the same place his family was from. He was married to Margaret Anderson, who was the daughter of a judge named Sir Edmund Anderson.
Together, Sir Thomas and Margaret had four sons and five daughters. Their oldest son and heir was John Monson (1600–1683). John later became a Member of Parliament himself during the time of King Charles I.
Sir Thomas's nephew, William Monson (around 1607–1678), also became an important figure. He was given the title of Viscount Monson in Ireland in 1628.
