Thomas Denton (died 1558) facts for kids
Thomas Denton (born before 1515 – died 3 October 1558) was an English lawyer and politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1536 until he passed away in 1558.
He was chosen to represent six different areas in Parliament during his career. These areas included Wallingford (1536), Oxford (1539), Berkshire (1547), Banbury (April 1554), Buckinghamshire (November 1554), and Oxfordshire (1558). Thomas Denton and Henry Stafford helped create the new parliamentary area (called a constituency) in Banbury in 1554. Denton often moved between different constituencies, likely because he was buying and selling land.
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Thomas Denton's Early Life and Career
Thomas Denton was the second son of Thomas Denton of Caversfield. His older brother was Sir John Denton. Thomas decided to become a lawyer. He started studying at the Middle Temple, a famous law school, before his father died.
Becoming a Lawyer and Serving the King
We don't have all the details about when he joined and finished his law studies. However, we know that in 1540, he was asked to report to King Henry VIII about the law schools. Denton, along with Nicholas Bacon and Robert Cary, suggested creating a new school. They wanted to use money from old church properties to pay for it. But the king did not give them the money, so the plan did not happen.
It is believed that his early work for the King and Thomas Cromwell helped him get his first job in Parliament in 1536. Denton owned land in Wallingford and might have been the mayor there. He took the place of the previous MP, Sir Edward Chamberlain. Like Chamberlain, Denton served without being paid.
Representing Different Areas in Parliament
Three years later, Denton became an MP for Oxford. Records for the 1542 and 1545 elections for Oxford and Wallingford are missing. It is very likely that Denton represented one of these areas during those years.
We do know that in 1547, he was chosen to represent Berkshire. He stayed as an MP for Berkshire until he decided to take a break in February 1552.
Later Political Life and Family
Denton stayed out of the big political changes that happened in 1553 when Queen Mary I came to power. Instead of being involved in active politics, he and Sir Henry Stafford quietly worked to create a new parliamentary area for Banbury.
Creating the Banbury Constituency
The Banbury constituency was officially created in January 1554. In April, Denton and Sir Edmund Peckham became the first MPs for Banbury. A year later, both of them did not show up for a meeting in Parliament. They were taken to court, but it did not cause any lasting problems for Denton. He was very active in the Middle Temple law school and was chosen as its treasurer in 1556.
In 1558, Denton won his last election. He became the MP for Oxfordshire, where his brother was the person in charge of the election.
Denton's Properties and Legacy
Records show that Denton owned properties in many places. These included London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire. He eventually settled in Hillesden, Buckinghamshire. He passed on his wealth to his only son, Alexander Denton (who died in 1576).
The Dentons of Hillesden family often represented Buckinghamshire in Parliament during the 1600s. They faced legal problems for supporting the king during the English Civil War. The family line ended in 1714.
See also
- William Denton, an MP for Midhurst from 1553 to 1565, who was not related to the Dentons of Caversfield.
