Sir Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet facts for kids

The family symbol (coat of arms) of the Palmers of Wingham.

Sir Thomas Palmer (1540–1626) was an important English knight and politician. He was often called 'the Travailer' because he loved to travel. He became the very first Baronet of his family.

Life of Sir Thomas Palmer

Sir Thomas Palmer was born in 1540. He was the third son of Sir Henry Palmer and Jane Windebank. His family lived in Wingham, Kent, a county in England.

Early Career and Knighthood

In 1595, Sir Thomas became the High Sheriff of Kent. This was an important local job, like a chief officer for the county. The next year, in 1596, he joined a military trip to Cadiz, Spain. During this trip, he was made a knight.

Political Role and Baronet Title

Sir Thomas was also a Member of Parliament. This means he was chosen to represent his area in the English government. He served in Parliament in 1586 and again in 1601 for the area of Arundel. On June 29, 1621, he was given a special new title: Baronet. This made him Sir Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet.

Family and Later Years

Sir Thomas Palmer passed away on January 2, 1626, when he was 85 years old. He was buried in Wingham. He had married Margaret Pooley, who also lived to be 85 and passed away in 1625.

Sir Thomas had three sons, and all of them became knights too.

• His first son, also named Sir Thomas, passed away before his father. This younger Sir Thomas was the father of Herbert Palmer, who became a famous religious leader.
• His second son, Sir Roger, worked for King Charles I.
• His third son, Sir James, was also a courtier (someone who attended the royal court) and a Member of Parliament. He also held an important role in a special group called the Order of the Garter.

Sir Thomas Palmer's Writings

In 1606, Sir Thomas Palmer published a book. It was called An Essay of the Meanes how to make our Travailes into forraine Countries the more profitable and honourable. In this book, he wrote about why traveling to other countries was a good idea. He also shared his thoughts on how travelers could learn about politics and business from their journeys. He wrote the book from his home in Wingham. It is said that he hosted Christmas celebrations there for 60 years in a row!