Thomas Grey, Lord Grey of Groby facts for kids

Thomas Grey, known as Lord Grey of Groby (born around 1623, died 1657), was an important person in English history. He was a Member of Parliament for Leicester during the Long Parliament and a strong supporter of the Parliament's side in the English Civil War. He is also known as a "regicide" because he was involved in the trial and execution of King Charles I.

Thomas was the oldest son of Henry Grey, the 1st Earl of Stamford. He used his father's title, Lord Grey of Groby, as a courtesy title. His mother was Anne Cecil.

In 1643, during the first English Civil War, Thomas was made the main commander of Parliament's forces in the middle counties of England and also the Governor of Leicester. In 1648, he helped chase and capture the Duke of Hamilton. He also helped Colonel Pride remove members from Parliament who were not loyal to the Parliament's cause. Later that year, he was chosen to be a judge in the court that tried King Charles I. His signature on the King's death warrant shows he strongly believed the King should be executed. He was the only noble person to sign the death warrant.

Lord Grey of Groby was a member of the Council of State under the Commonwealth government. He fought against the Scots in 1651 during the Third English Civil War. In 1655, he was arrested because people thought he was plotting against Oliver Cromwell, who was then the Lord Protector. However, he was released soon after. He died in 1657, before his father.

Early Life and Politics

Thomas Grey was born in 1623. His parents were Henry Grey, who was the 2nd Baron Grey of Groby, and Anne Cecil. He spent most of his childhood at Bradgate House and Groby Manor.

In 1628, when Thomas was five, his father became the 1st Earl of Stamford. This meant Thomas gained the courtesy title of Lord Grey of Groby. When he was about 10 or 11, King Charles I and his wife, Henrietta Maria, visited his family at Bradgate House. This royal visit seemed to be a sign of good fortune for the Grey family.

However, things soon changed. The family had problems with their businesses and disagreed with some of the King's policies. By 1634, they started to turn against the King. The family also had a history of being Puritans, which further widened the gap between them and the King.

By 1640, when Thomas was 17, tensions were rising across England. As the English Civil War approached, Thomas was elected as a Member of Parliament for Leicester in 1641. He also joined Gray's Inn, a place where lawyers are trained, just like his father had. Later that year, he was one of twelve members chosen to present the "Grand Remonstrance" to the King. This was a petition protesting the King's "Oppressions in Religion, Church Government and Discipline." Because of his actions, he was called "a Lord dear to the House of Commons."

Military Service

On January 16, 1643, Thomas, Lord Grey of Groby, was made the main commander of the forces in the midland counties. He was also told to take special care of Nottingham during the Civil War. He set up his headquarters there in June 1643, with about 6,000 soldiers.

His father, Henry Grey, wrote a letter in March 1643 describing a battle to clear the area, going through towns like Lutterworth and Newark. In August 1643, Thomas joined the Earl of Essex in Aylesbury to march and help Gloucester. After the siege of Gloucester was lifted, he fought in the First Battle of Newbury and was thanked for his efforts.

In 1644, he was praised again for taking control of places in Derbyshire. He later left Leicester due to a disagreement but was asked to return in 1645 to fight against a royalist attack. In 1648, Lord Grey gathered troops in Leicestershire. After the Scots were defeated at Preston, he chased the Duke of Hamilton and his cavalry to Uttoxeter. He took credit for capturing the Duke, although the Duke claimed he surrendered. Lord Grey held various military commands until August. In 1651, he was sent to gather volunteers as commander-in-chief in Leicester, Nottingham, Northampton, and Rutland, to stop the Scottish invasion. In September, Sir Edward Massie surrendered to Lord Grey after the Battle of Worcester.

Role in the King's Trial

By the end of 1643, Lord Grey's opinions started to differ from his father's more moderate ideas. In 1644, he left Leicester because of a misunderstanding with the county. In 1645, Lord Grey had to give up his command because of a rule called the Self-Denying Ordinance. After this, he formed a political alliance with more radical politicians who supported a republic. He also asked to fight against the royalist attack.

On December 6, 1648, Lord Grey helped with "Pride's Purge." This was when certain members were removed from Parliament. He also supported the Leveller Cause, a group that wanted more equality. On February 16, 1649, he served as one of the judges against King Charles I. After this, he became known as a "regicide," meaning someone involved in killing a king. Lord Grey was the second of 59 judges to sign the death warrant. He was the only noble person to sign it, which led to King Charles's execution on January 30, 1649.

Later Life and Imprisonment

In 1649, Thomas Grey became a Counselor of State. He was nominated for the Council of State until he faced an unclear disgrace. By 1653, he became unhappy with Oliver Cromwell because Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament. On February 12, 1655, Lord Grey joined the Fifth Monarchists, a religious group with strong political views.

He was arrested by Colonel Hacker on suspicion of plotting against Cromwell, who was now the Lord Protector. Even though he was "much distempered with gout," he was taken prisoner to Windsor Castle. In July 1655, he was released after a request was made to the Protector. However, from his release until his death in 1657, he did not take an active part in politics.

Family Life

On June 4, 1646, when he was 23, Lord Grey married Dorothy, who was the daughter of Edward Bourchier, the 4th Earl of Bath. In 1654, their only son, also named Thomas, was born. This son would later become the 2nd Earl of Stamford, inheriting the title from his grandfather.

Images for kids

• 

  The coat of arms for the Grey family.