Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth facts for kids

Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth

Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth (born in 1525, died on January 13, 1584), was an important English nobleman. He was a trusted helper to the king and queens of England, and also a military leader. He served during the time of King Edward VI, Queen Mary I, and Queen Elizabeth I. He became well-known for losing control of Calais in 1558, which was a very important port for England at the time.

Early Life and Career

Thomas was the oldest son of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, and Margaret Fortescue. He went to school at St John's College, Cambridge. He was a brave soldier and fought well under his relative, Edward Seymour, the Duke of Somerset, at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547. Because of his bravery, he was made a knight in August 1547.

He was a Member of Parliament for Suffolk from 1547 to 1553. When his father passed away in 1551, Thomas inherited his father's title and became the 2nd Baron Wentworth. He was one of the noblemen who decided that the Duke of Somerset was not guilty of being disloyal to the king, but guilty of a serious crime in 1551.

In 1553, Thomas Wentworth supported Queen Mary I, even though he had signed a document that tried to make Lady Jane Grey the queen. He believed that Mary was the rightful queen. Soon after, he helped decide the fate of other important people who had supported Lady Jane Grey. Four days later, he became a sworn member of the Privy Council, which was a group of trusted advisors to the monarch.

The Loss of Calais

In December 1553, Queen Mary made Thomas Wentworth the Lord Deputy of Calais. This was a very important job because Calais was England's last major possession in France. Wentworth was the last Englishman to hold this position.

On January 7, 1558, he had to give up Calais to the French army, led by Francis, Duke of Guise. Wentworth had told the Privy Council many years before that Calais was not well-protected, but his warnings were not taken seriously. People thought he might have secretly worked with the enemy because he seemed unsure and didn't act strongly during the attack. However, he probably just knew that defending Calais was hopeless. He was later accused of being disloyal to the queen.

Later Life and Family

After losing Calais, Thomas Wentworth lost control of his lands in Stepney and Hackney. He was held as a prisoner of war in France for over a year. This delay might have helped him avoid some of the blame for the loss of Calais.

When Queen Elizabeth I became queen, he was held in the Tower of London when he returned to England. But in April 1559, he was found not guilty of being disloyal. His lands were given back to him. In 1561, he was fully accepted back into society. A book of sermons was even dedicated to him. Thomas Wentworth was known for having tolerant religious views.

In 1569, he declared his support for the Act of Uniformity, which set out how religious services should be held in England. In 1572, he was one of the noblemen who judged Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, for being disloyal to the queen.

Thomas Wentworth was married twice. Both of his wives were relatives from other branches of the Wentworth family. His first wife, Mary Wentworth, died without having children. His second wife, Anne, had his children. She passed away in 1571. Thomas Wentworth died on January 13, 1584.

Children

• William Wentworth (died in 1582) was the oldest son. He married Elizabeth Cecil, who was the daughter of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. William died before his father.
• Henry Wentworth, 3rd Baron Wentworth (1558–1593), was the second son. Because William died, Henry inherited his father's title. Henry was one of the judges who decided the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1586. He married Anne Hopton and was the father of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland.

Popular Culture

Thomas Wentworth appears as a small character in the book The Two Dianas by Alexandre Dumas.

Sources