Thomas Smith (English judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Smith
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | c.1556 |
| Died | 1609 Fulham, London
|
Sir Thomas Smith (born around 1556, died 1609) was an important person in England. He held a special job called the Master of Requests. This meant he helped the King or Queen by looking at requests and petitions from people.
Contents
Who Was Thomas Smith?
Thomas Smith was born in a town called Abingdon in England, around the year 1556. His father was also named Thomas Smith, who was the Mayor of Abingdon in 1584. It's important not to confuse him with other famous people named Thomas Smith from that time!
His School Days
Thomas Smith went to school at John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon. This school is known today as Abingdon School. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a famous university.
- In 1573, he became a student there.
- By December 1574, he earned his first degree (B.A.).
- In June 1578, he earned his master's degree (M.A.).
- He was chosen to be a public speaker for the university in 1582.
- In 1584, he became a proctor, which is a university official.
Working for the Queen and King
Thomas Smith had an important career in the government.
Early Career in Government
Soon after finishing his studies, he started working for a powerful nobleman, Robert Devereux, second earl of Essex. In 1587, he got a job as a clerk for the privy council. The privy council was a group of advisors to the monarch.
He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas:
- He represented Cricklade in 1588–1589.
- He represented Tamworth in 1593.
- He represented Aylesbury in 1597–1598.
In 1597, he became the clerk of parliament. This meant he was in charge of keeping records for the parliament.
Service to King James I
When King James I came to power in 1603, Thomas Smith received even more important jobs. He was knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir."
- On May 20, 1603, he became "Sir Thomas Smith."
- He was given the job of Latin secretary for life. This meant he handled all official letters written in Latin.
- He also became the Master of Requests in 1608. This was a very important role, as he dealt with petitions sent to the King.
His Later Life and Legacy
Sir Thomas Smith passed away on November 27, 1609, at his home near Fulham, London. He was buried in the local church.
He had one son, Robert, who died young, and one daughter, Margaret. Margaret married Thomas Carey, who was also from an important family.
In his will, Sir Thomas Smith left money to help others. He gave £100 to the poor people of Abingdon, his hometown. He also gave £100 to the Bodleian Library, a famous library at Oxford University.
See also
- List of Old Abingdonians
