Thomas Fitzwilliam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Fitzwilliam
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| Occupation | Speaker of the House of Commons of England |
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam was an important figure in English politics. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons of England from 1489 to 1490. He passed away on March 4, 1497.
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Who Was Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam?
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam was born into a well-known family from Lincolnshire, England. His father was also named Thomas Fitzwilliam, and he was from Mablethorpe. Thomas Fitzwilliam studied law at a famous place called the Inner Temple in London. This education prepared him for a career in law and government.
His Early Career in Law and Politics
Thomas Fitzwilliam began his career in public service. In 1459, he became the Recorder of Lincoln. A Recorder was a legal officer, like a judge, for a city. In the same year, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln. An MP is someone chosen to represent a group of people in the government.
Later, in 1467, he became an MP for Plympton Earle. This area was under the control of the King at the time. In 1478, he was given another important legal role. He became a "serjeant-at-law" for the Duchy of Lancaster. This was a high rank for a lawyer, working for the King's own lands.
Moving to London and New Roles
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam eventually moved to London. He bought a house in Stepney, a part of the city. He then became the Recorder of London, an even more important legal position for the capital city.
He supported Richard III when he became King of England. However, after the Battle of Bosworth, Henry Tudor became the new king. Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam welcomed King Henry VII. He became more involved in the new government. He represented London in King Henry's very first Parliament. In 1486, he was honored with a knighthood, becoming "Sir" Thomas Fitzwilliam.
Becoming Speaker of the House
In 1489, King Henry VII called his third Parliament. During this Parliament, Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam was chosen for a very important job. He was elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker is like the leader or chairperson of the House of Commons. They make sure debates run smoothly and rules are followed.
Even though he represented London before, for this role, he chose to sit as a "knight of the shire" for Lincolnshire. A knight of the shire was an MP who represented a county.
Family and Later Life
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam passed away in 1497. He was buried in the church in his hometown of Mablethorpe. He was married to Margaret Harrington, who died in 1498. They had at least three sons named John, George, and William.
Sadly, his son John died before him. So, the family's properties went to John's son, who was also named Thomas. However, this younger Thomas also died young in 1502. After that, the family's estates were passed to Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam's second son, George.
