Thomas Vavasour (knight marshal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Thomas Vavasour
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Ham House, London
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| Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett |
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| In office 1584–1586 |
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| Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett |
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| In office 1586–1589 |
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| Member of Parliament for Malmesbury |
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| In office 1589–1589 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1560 Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 1620 (aged 59–60) |
| Spouse | Mary Dodge |
| Children | 4 sons, 2 daughters |
| Residence | Ham House (1610–1620) |
| Alma mater | Caius College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Knight Marshal |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1584–1591 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Arnhem 1585, Netherlands 1587 |
Sir Thomas Vavasour (born 1560, died 1620) was an important English soldier, a person who worked at the royal court, and a Member of Parliament. He came from a well-known family in Yorkshire, England.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Vavasour was born in Yorkshire in 1560. His father was Henry Vavasour, and his mother was Margaret Knyvet.
Thomas went to Eton College, a famous school. After that, he studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, which is part of the University of Cambridge.
Family Life
In 1576, Thomas Vavasour married Mary Dodge. Together, they had four sons and two daughters.
Military Career and Knighthood
Thomas Vavasour was a brave soldier. In August 1585, he went to the Netherlands as a captain leading soldiers from Yorkshire. He stayed in this role until 1591.
He showed great courage in two battles:
- In October 1585, he helped attack a small fort near Arnhem.
- In 1587, he fought alongside Lord Willoughby against the Marques del Guasto.
It is believed that he was made a knight before August 1595. This means he was given the title "Sir" for his service.
Working for the Royal Court
After his time as a soldier, Thomas Vavasour worked for the Queen. He was a "gentleman pensioner" until Queen Elizabeth I died in March 1603.
When King James I became king, Vavasour received new roles. He was made the "Butler of the port of London," which was a job that earned him a lot of money.
In 1604, he became the Knight Marshal of the Household. This was an important job that involved keeping order in the royal household. He held this job for life starting in 1612. However, he later sold this position in 1618 for a large sum of money, about £3,000.
Member of Parliament
Thomas Vavasour was elected to the English Parliament several times. A Member of Parliament (MP) helps make laws for the country.
He represented different areas:
- He was an MP for Wootton Bassett in 1584 and 1586.
- He was an MP for Malmesbury in 1589.
- He returned to Parliament in 1609 for Boroughbridge.
- In 1614, he was elected again to represent Horsham.
Ham House
Thomas Vavasour was a wealthy man. In 1610, he used his money and connections to build Ham House. This grand house was built on land owned by the Crown.
After Sir Thomas Vavasour died in 1620, the right to use Ham House went to John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness. He was a close friend of King James I.
