Thomas Harrington (died 1460) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Harrington of Hornby (died 1460) was an English knight from the northern part of the country. He lived in the 1400s. Sir Thomas first served the Lancastrian kings of England. But later, he changed his loyalty to Richard of York. This happened during the early years of the Wars of the Roses. Sir Thomas died fighting for Richard of York.
Early Life and Royal Service
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Thomas was the son of Sir William Harrington, who passed away in 1440. In 1419, Thomas married Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Thomas, Lord Dacre.
Sir Thomas Harrington traveled with King Henry VI to France in 1436. This was for the king's coronation ceremony. Six years later, he went back to France to fight in Gascony for the king. In 1445, King Henry VI married Margaret of Anjou. Thomas Harrington was one of the people who helped escort her from France to England.
For his good service, he received many royal jobs. These were the same jobs his father had held in the duchy of Lancaster. In October 1449, he fought in a border war against Scotland. This war ended with the Battle of Sark. During this battle, Thomas Harrington and Lord Poynings were captured by the Scots. They got stuck in muddy ground.
He was released the next year. In July 1450, Harrington led a group of soldiers from Lancashire. They went to help the king fight against Jack Cade's rebellion.
Changing Political Sides
Some historians believe that his work in the royal offices brought Thomas closer to the Neville family. By 1446, he was a deputy manager of Amounderness castle. The main manager was Richard, Earl of Salisbury. Salisbury was a powerful ally of Richard of York. He was one of the most important noblemen in the north.
Thomas Harrington also supported Salisbury's sons, Thomas and John Neville. They had a disagreement with the sons of the Earl of Northumberland. This was part of the Percy–Neville feud. In November 1455, Thomas Harrington helped one of Salisbury's men get a job as Sheriff in Yorkshire.
Final Years and the Wars of the Roses
In November 1458, a writer at the time said that Harrington was called to Middleham. He was asked to join the Earl of Salisbury and the Duke of York. This decision helped him protect his family's lands. He wanted to keep his property safe, no matter how the political problems turned out.
A year later, he gave some of his land to a group of Lancastrian noblemen. This was to protect his estates as conflict grew. Among them were the Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Clifford.
Sir Thomas and his second son, James, fought with Salisbury at the Battle of Blore Heath. They won the battle, but both were captured afterward. They were taken to Chester Castle. They were set free when the Yorkists regained power in July 1460. Thomas's lands were also given back to him.
In early December 1460, he and his oldest son, John, marched north. They went with York and Salisbury to stop a rebellion by the Lancastrians. They fought at the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460. Both Sir Thomas and his son John were killed in this battle.
