Sir William Button, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Button, 1st Baronet (1584 – 16 January 1655) was an English landowner and politician. He served in the English Parliament at different times between 1614 and 1629. Sir William was a strong supporter of King Charles I and the Royalist side during the English Civil War.
Contents
Who Was Sir William Button?
Sir William Button was born in 1584. His father was William Button, who owned land in Alton and Tockenham Court, Wiltshire. His mother was Jane Lambe.
Early Life and Education
When he was 16 years old, Sir William went to Queen's College, Oxford, in 1601. In 1605, he was made a knight at Whitehall. This was a special honor given by the King. From 1611 to 1612, he held an important local job as High Sheriff of Wiltshire for the county of Wiltshire.
A Career in Parliament
Sir William Button was involved in politics for many years. In 1614, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Morpeth. This meant he represented the people of Morpeth in the English Parliament.
In 1622, he received the special title of a Baronet. This was a new title at the time, given by the King. Later, in 1628, he was elected as an MP again, this time for his home county of Wiltshire.
The English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Sir William Button strongly supported King Charles I. Because he sided with the King, he faced difficulties when the King's opponents won. In 1647, he had to pay a very large fine for supporting the Royalist cause.
His family owned several properties in Wiltshire, including places like Alton Priors, Lyneham, Tockenham, and North Wraxall. His home at Tockenham Court was raided by the King's opponents in 1643 and 1644 during the war.
Family and Legacy
Sir William Button passed away in 1655. He was buried at North Wraxall, where there is a special stone monument to remember him.
He married Ruth Dunch in 1611 or earlier. Ruth was the daughter of Walter Dunch from Avebury, Wiltshire. After Sir William's death, his son, also named William, took over the baronetcy.
