Thomas Charlton (speaker) facts for kids
Thomas Charlton (born around 1417, died 1465) was an important person in English politics during the 1400s. He served as the Speaker for the House of Commons of England in 1454. The House of Commons is like one part of today's Parliament, where elected representatives discuss and make laws.
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Early Life and Family
Thomas Charlton was the son of Sir Thomas Charlton, a wealthy landowner and a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent a specific area in Parliament. Thomas Jr. inherited a lot of land from his parents across several counties, which made him quite influential.
Starting His Political Journey
Around 1441, Thomas Charlton began his career by joining the household of King Henry VI. Being part of the king's household meant he worked closely with the royal family.
In 1442, he was first elected to Parliament. He served as a knight of the shire for Middlesex. A knight of the shire was a representative elected by people in a county to speak for them in Parliament. He was elected to Parliament six times in total.
Becoming Speaker of the House
In 1453, Thomas Charlton was knighted, which was a special honor. That same year, he was again a Member of Parliament for Middlesex. This was a time when England was facing political challenges. King Henry VI was ill, and Richard, Duke of York claimed he should be king.
The Speaker of the House of Commons at the time, Thomas Thorpe, was arrested because of the Duke of York's orders. On February 16, 1454, Thomas Charlton was chosen to take his place as Speaker. He served in this important role until April 1454. The Speaker's job is to lead the discussions in the House of Commons and make sure rules are followed.
Later Career and Challenges
In 1455, Thomas Charlton was appointed Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. A sheriff was a royal official responsible for law and order in a county. He returned to Parliament in 1459.
England was then in a period known as the Wars of the Roses, a series of wars between two powerful families: the House of York (Yorkists) and the House of Lancaster (Lancastrians). After the Yorkists invaded in 1460, Thomas Charlton decided to support their side. He even helped judge the Lancastrian defenders of the Tower of London.
He was elected to Parliament again and became the Comptroller of the Household. As Comptroller, he managed the king's household expenses and staff. In 1461, he went with King Henry VI to the Second Battle of St. Albans, where he was captured. However, he regained his freedom a month later after the Yorkist side, led by Edward IV, won the Battle of Towton.
Personal Life and Death
Thomas Charlton passed away in 1465. He was married to Benedicta Vernon, who was the daughter of another former Speaker of the Commons, Sir Richard Vernon. They had two sons and three daughters.
