Thomas Pope facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Pope
Born	c. 1507
Died	29 January 1559 Clerkenwell
Position held	Member of the 1536 Parliament, Member of the 1539-40 Parliament

Sir Thomas Pope (born around 1507, died January 29, 1559) was an important person in England during the mid-1500s. He worked for the government, was a member of Parliament, owned a lot of land, and started Trinity College, Oxford.

Early Life and Career

Sir Thomas Pope was born in Deddington, a town near Banbury in Oxfordshire. This was probably in 1507. His father was a yeoman farmer, meaning he owned and worked his own land. Thomas was about 16 years old when his father passed away in 1523.

He went to school in Banbury and then to Eton College. After his schooling, he started working in the Court of Chancery. This was a special court that dealt with legal fairness. There, he became friends with Thomas Audley, who was a very powerful judge.

Rising Through Government Jobs

Thomas Pope held many important jobs in the government. He was a clerk in the Star Chamber, which was another court. He also managed the royal mint from 1534 to 1536. Later, he became the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in 1537.

One of his most important roles was in the Court of Augmentations. This court managed land and money taken from smaller religious places. Through this job, he became very rich and powerful. He bought or was given many properties that used to belong to the church. He ended up owning nearly 30 large estates. It was said he could ride for about 18 miles just on his own land! He made his main home at Tittenhanger in Hertfordshire.

His Time in Parliament

Sir Thomas Pope was chosen to be a Member of Parliament twice. He represented Buckingham in 1536 and Berkshire in 1539. In 1537, he was given the title of knight, which meant he was called "Sir Thomas Pope."

He also served as the High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire in 1552 and 1557. This was an important local government role.

Working with Royalty

When King Edward VI changed some religious rules, Sir Thomas Pope did not like them. However, when Queen Mary I came to power, he became a member of her privy council. This was a group of trusted advisors to the monarch. In 1556, he was even sent to live at Hatfield Palace to look after Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth I.

Founding Trinity College

Sir Thomas Pope had a big dream to start a new college at Oxford University. As early as 1555, he began planning for it. He bought the land and buildings of Durham College, which used to be a part of a monastery.

On March 8, 1556, he received official permission from the king to create and fund a college. He named it the College of the "Holy and Undivided Trinity." Today, it is simply known as Trinity College, Oxford.

How the College Was Set Up

The college was designed to have a president, twelve fellows (teachers or researchers), and eight scholars (students). It also had a schoolhouse in a place called Hook Norton. Later, the number of scholars was increased to twelve, and the schoolhouse was no longer needed.

On March 28, 1556, the people who would be part of the college officially took over the site. They were formally welcomed on May 29, 1556.

His Death and Legacy

Sir Thomas Pope passed away in Clerkenwell on January 29, 1559. He was first buried at a church called St Stephen's, Walbrook. Later, his body was moved to Trinity College. His wife built a beautiful monument there to remember him.

Personal Life

Sir Thomas Pope was married three times. His wives were Elizabeth Gunston, Margaret Townsend, and Elizabeth Blount. However, he did not have any children.

He left a lot of his money and property to charities and religious groups. Most of his land in Oxfordshire went to his brother's family. His relatives later became important noble families, like the Viscounts Dillon and the Earls of Guilford.