Thomas Stanley (Royal Mint) facts for kids
Thomas Stanley (died 15 December 1571) was a skilled goldsmith and an important officer at the Royal Mint in Tudor England. The Royal Mint was where coins were made for the country. Stanley worked his way up to a very high position, becoming the Under-Treasurer of the Mint at the Tower of London during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
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Who Was Thomas Stanley?
Thomas Stanley was born into a family from Cumberland, a region in England. He was the third son of Thomas Stanley and Margaret Fleming. He married a woman named Joyce Barrett. Joyce was already a widow when they married.
His Family
Thomas and Joyce Stanley had one daughter named Mary. Mary grew up and married Sir Edward Herbert. Their son, William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis, became a very important person in Queen Elizabeth I's court. He was called the Lord High Steward.
What Was His Job?
Thomas Stanley started working at the Royal Mint in March 1545. This was during the reign of King Henry VIII. The Mint was changing a lot at this time. King Henry VIII wanted to make more money for the country. One way they tried to do this was by changing the coins. This was called debasement, which meant adding less valuable metals to the gold and silver coins.
Rising Through the Ranks
After King Henry VIII, his son Edward VI became king. The policy of changing the coins continued for a while. But later, a plan was made to make the money better again. Thomas Stanley was part of a group of Mint officials who helped the government decide how to make new, better coins.
In 1552, the Mint changed again. Thomas Stanley was promoted to a role called Comptroller. This meant he helped manage the Mint's money and operations.
Leading the Mint
When Queen Mary I came to power, the person in charge of the Tower Mint was dismissed. From 1555 until 1571, Thomas Stanley was largely in charge of the Tower Mint.
When Queen Elizabeth I became queen, she confirmed Stanley's position in 1559. Then, in 1561, he was officially made the Under-Treasurer of the Mint. This was the top job, and he kept it until he died. As the head of the Tower Mint, Stanley oversaw a huge project. This project was called the Elizabethan recoinage. It meant making all new, good quality coins for the country. This big task happened between 1560 and 1561.
Challenges at Work
Even though he was very important, Thomas Stanley faced some challenges. There were disagreements between him and other officers at the Mint. There were questions about how he managed the money. Because of some issues with his accounts from Queen Mary's time, some of his properties were taken in October 1571. He passed away two months later, in December 1571.
