Thomas Fleetwood (of the Vache) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fleetwood |
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Thomas Fleetwood (born around 1517 or 1518, died 1570) was an important English politician, judge, and financial expert. He worked for King Henry VIII as the Master of the Royal Mint, which meant he was in charge of making all the money for the country! He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas in England.
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Who Was Thomas Fleetwood?
Thomas Fleetwood came from a family in Lancashire, England. His parents were William Fleetwood and Ellen Standish. The family's special symbol, called a coat of arms, was given to him on July 4, 1548. This symbol is still used by the Fleetwood family today.
Working for the Royal Mint
Thomas Fleetwood had a big role in making money for England. In 1545, he started as a Teller at the Tower mint. This was a place where coins were made. He worked there for three years. After that, he got even more important jobs at the London mints.
From 1547 to 1551, he was a comptroller and assayer at the Southwark mint. These jobs involved checking the quality and amount of metal used in coins. In December 1550, he was chosen to be a commissioner for new coins. This meant he helped decide how new money would look and be made. Later, from 1560 to 1562, he became the under treasurer at the Tower mint. This was a very high position in charge of the mint's money.
The money he earned from these important jobs helped him buy land. He bought land in both Buckinghamshire and Lancashire. One of his most important purchases was a large estate called The Vache in Chalfont St. Giles, which he bought in 1564.
A Career in Politics
Besides his work at the mint, Thomas Fleetwood was also involved in politics. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is someone chosen to represent an area in the country's government, helping to make laws.
He was an MP for Preston in March 1553. Later, he represented Buckinghamshire in Parliament in 1563. He was also chosen to be the High Sheriff for Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1564–65. A High Sheriff was a very important local official, like a chief law enforcement officer for the county.
Later Life and Legacy
Thomas Fleetwood passed away in 1570. He was buried in a special tomb in Chalfont St. Giles.
He was married twice. His first wife was Barbara Francis, and they had three sons and one daughter. His second wife was Bridget Spring. She was the youngest child of Sir John Spring. Thomas and Bridget had a large family with seven sons and seven daughters! Some of their children included William, George, and Henry. One of their daughters, Joyce, became the grandmother of a very famous statesman named Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds.
After Thomas Fleetwood died, his estate called The Vache went to his second son, George Fleetwood.
See Also
- Fleetwood (noble family)
