Thomas Long (died 1593) facts for kids
Thomas Long, also known as Longe, was an important figure in English history. He lived a long time ago, from 1539 to 1593. He is remembered because he was the very first person in England to be punished for trying to get elected to a special group called the House of Commons by using money in a wrong way.
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Who Was Thomas Long?
Thomas Long (1539 – 1593) was an Englishman who lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He became famous, or rather infamous, for a specific event that happened in 1571. This event involved his election to the Parliament of England, which is like the government's main meeting place where laws are made.
His Election to Parliament
In 1571, Thomas Long was chosen to be one of the two Members of Parliament for a town called Westbury. Being a Member of Parliament (MP) was a very important job. MPs represented their towns and helped make decisions for the whole country.
The Problem with His Election
After Thomas Long was elected, people noticed something wasn't quite right. They found out he was "a simple man," meaning he wasn't very experienced or skilled for such an important role. When they looked into it more closely, they discovered a big problem.
It turned out that Thomas Long had paid money to get elected. He gave four pounds to two people: Anthony Garland, who was in charge of the election, and a Mr. Wat. This act of paying money to unfairly win an election is called bribery. It was a serious wrongdoing, described as a "scandalous attempt" to get into Parliament.
What Happened Next?
Because of this improper action, several things happened. First, the town of Westbury had to pay a fine of twenty pounds. Second, Thomas Long was removed from his position as a Member of Parliament. He was no longer allowed to serve. Third, the person who helped him, the election officer, was also fined and put in prison. This showed that the authorities took bribery very seriously, even back then.
What We Know About Thomas Long
It's a bit tricky to know everything about Thomas Long because there were other people with the same name around at that time. Historians believe the Thomas Long we are talking about here was born in 1539 and passed away on June 30, 1593. He had three sons and three daughters. When he died, he left behind property and money worth about £300, which was a good amount in those days.
