Thomas Scott (died 1594) facts for kids

Sir Thomas Scott (d.1594), a copy of an old painting.

The family crest of the Scott family.

Sir Thomas Scott (born 1535 – died 1594) was an important person from Kent, England. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was elected to represent his area in the country's government.

Family Life

Thomas Scott was the oldest son of Sir Reginald Scott. His family was one of the most important and well-known families in Kent. His mother was Emeline Kempe.

Sir Thomas Scott's Career

Sir Thomas Scott quickly became involved in public life. He was made a knight in 1571. He served as an MP for Kent in the years 1571 and 1586-1587. He was also the High Sheriff of Kent in 1576, which was a top law enforcement role in the county.

He helped with many important projects. He was a Deputy Lieutenant, helping to manage the county. He also worked on improving Romney Marsh and the harbour at Dover.

His Role in Parliament

In Parliament, Sir Thomas Scott was very clear about his views on the Roman Catholic Church. He believed it was a big danger to England.

In 1572, he spoke about how to deal with Mary, Queen of Scots. He thought that the main problem was the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. He also worried about who would become the next ruler of England. He suggested strong actions to secure England's future.

In 1587, Sir Thomas Scott warned Parliament about the danger from Spain. His son, John, was fighting in the Dutch Revolt at the time. Sir Thomas believed it was dangerous to have Roman Catholics in important government jobs. He also talked about how England should defend itself from invasion. He used lessons from history, like how the ancient Britons fought Julius Caesar. He said England should fight enemies at sea or on the beaches.

He was even put in charge of a group to search houses in Westminster. They looked for people or books that went against the official church.

Defending England

Sir Thomas Scott also focused on practical military defense. When the Spanish Armada threatened England in 1588, he was ready. He was put in charge of the defense force in Kent. He quickly prepared four thousand men at his own expense. He did this within just one day of getting his orders!

Sir Thomas Scott was highly respected. After he died in 1594, the people of Ashford, Kent offered to bury him in their church for free. However, his family chose to bury him at Brabourne.

Family and Children

The family crest of Sir Thomas Scott, showing his arms and those of his two wives.

Sir Thomas Scott married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Baker. They had ten sons and four daughters together.

One of his notable sons was Sir John Scott. He became a Member of Parliament for Kent. Sir John was also an early investor in the Colony of Virginia in America.

Sir Thomas Scott's second wife was Elizabeth Heyman. His third wife was Dorothy Bere. He did not have any children with his second or third wives.

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