Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Wriothesley
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| 4th Earl of Southampton | |
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, wearing his Garter Star and holding his Staff of Office as Lord High Treasurer. Portrait by School of Sir Peter Lely
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| Tenure | 1624-1667 |
| Predecessor | Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton |
| Other titles | Earl of Chichester Lord Wriothesley |
| Born | 10 March 1607 |
| Died | 16 May 1667 (aged 60) |
| Nationality | English |
| Offices | Lord High Treasurer |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel de Massue Lady Elizabeth Leigh Frances Seymour |
| Parents | Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton Elizabeth Vernon |
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton (born March 10, 1607 – died May 16, 1667) was an important English leader. Before 1624, people called him Lord Wriothesley. He was a strong supporter of King Charles II. After the king returned to power in 1660, Thomas Wriothesley became the Lord High Treasurer. This was a very important job, like being in charge of all the country's money. People said he was honest and tried to save money for the country.
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Who Was Thomas Wriothesley?
Thomas Wriothesley was the only son of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. His mother was Elizabeth Vernon. His family was very important in England.
Family History
In 1545, King Henry VIII gave land in Bloomsbury (now in Central London) to Thomas's ancestor. This land was passed down through the family. Later, it became part of the Bedford Estate. Today, you can find streets named Southampton Row and Southampton Street in London. These names remember the Wriothesley family.
Thomas Wriothesley's Career
Thomas became the Earl of Southampton in 1624, after his father passed away. He then went to St. John's College, Cambridge.
Early Political Life
At first, Thomas Wriothesley supported the Parliament in the English Civil War. But when he saw how violent things became, he changed his mind. He became a loyal supporter of King Charles I. Even though the king lost power, Thomas stayed true to him. He worked hard to bring peace. He even represented the king at peace talks in 1643 and 1645. He was allowed to stay in England, but he had to pay a large fine.
Becoming Lord High Treasurer
After King Charles II returned to power in 1660, Thomas Wriothesley got a very important job. On September 8, 1660, he became the Lord High Treasurer. He kept this job until he died.
The famous writer Samuel Pepys admired Thomas Wriothesley. Pepys thought he was honest and brave, especially when he was sick. But Pepys also wondered if Thomas was good enough at managing money. Once, Thomas told Pepys he had given all he could. He wondered why people wouldn't lend money to the country.
However, other important people, like Sir William Coventry, thought Thomas Wriothesley was a great leader. Coventry said that other ministers would joke about Thomas always saying it was "impossible" to find money. But in the end, he always managed to find it. Thomas once said, "Impossible will be found impossible at the last." This was a warning about future money problems for the country.
Family Life
Thomas Wriothesley was married three times. He had three daughters.
First Marriage
His first wife was Rachel de Massue (1603 – 1640). She was from France. They had two daughters:
- Elizabeth Wriothesley, who married Edward Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough.
- Rachel Wriothesley, who inherited the Bloomsbury estate. She married William Russell, Lord Russell. Her son, Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, later inherited all of Thomas Wriothesley's estates.
Second Marriage
His second wife was Lady Elizabeth Leigh. She was the daughter of Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester. From her, Thomas inherited the title Earl of Chichester. They had one daughter:
- Elizabeth Wriothesley (1646–1690). She married twice. Her first husband was Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland. They had a daughter named Lady Elizabeth Percy. Elizabeth Wriothesley's second husband was Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu.
Third Marriage
His third wife was Lady Frances Seymour. She was the daughter of William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset. Thomas and Frances did not have any children together.
