Thomas Wyndham (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Wyndham
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Portrait of Thomas Wyndham by Hans Eworth, 1550
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| Born | c. 1510 Parish of Felbrigg, Norfolk, England |
| Died | 1554 (aged 43–44) Benin, Africa |
| Buried |
At sea of the coast of Benin
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| Allegiance |  England |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1532–1554 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held | Master of Naval Ordnance |
Thomas Wyndham (1508–1554) was an English naval officer, explorer, and navigator. He was also known as Thomas Windham. He held important positions in the English navy, like Vice-Admiral. In 1552, he became a key officer in the Admiralty, which managed the navy. He was also the Master of Naval Ordnance, in charge of naval weapons, until 1553.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Thomas Wyndham was born around 1510. His father was Sir Thomas Wyndham of Felbrigg. When his father passed away in 1522, young Thomas was looked after by important people. These included Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, and Cardinal Wolsey.
His family arranged for him to study at the University of Louvain. He might have also studied in Italy. His father left him money to help him marry someone from a good family. Thomas later married and had one son, Henry, and two daughters.
Thomas Wyndham started his career working in Ireland from 1536 to 1540. In 1539, he led 100 soldiers in battles in Ireland. He had to return to England in 1540 because he became ill.
His first known time serving at sea was in 1542. He commanded a ship fighting against Scotland in the North Sea. In 1545, Wyndham and William Hawkins captured a Spanish ship. This was seen as an act of piracy, and they were told to pay for it.
Fighting in Scotland
During a war between England and Scotland, Wyndham commanded a ship. This was during the Rough Wooing period. In 1544, he helped with a landing at Edinburgh.
In December 1547, he sailed two ships to Dundee. He helped the English soldiers at Broughty Castle. He explored the River Tay to find lead from church roofs for bullets. On Christmas Day 1547, he burned Balmerino Abbey. A few days later, he burned Elcho Nunnery.
On land, he helped set up a fort at Haddington. It was called "Wyndham's bulwark." In June 1548, he and James Wilford captured Dalkeith Palace. They also burned the town.
Near the end of the war, Wyndham was investigated. He had captured foreign merchant ships in the Firth of Forth. These ships carried things like coal, timber, and other goods. In March 1550, peace was declared. Wyndham was sent to Scotland to exchange prisoners.
Portrait and Final Voyage
Around 1550, a famous artist named Hans Eworth painted Wyndham's portrait. The painting shows him with a powder flask and a gun. It says he was 42 years old in 1550. Later, the painting was known as "Of Mr Thomas Wyndham drowned in the Sea returninge from Ginny."
"Ginny" was an old name for the western part of Africa, including what is now Nigeria. Thomas Wyndham planned a voyage to this region. A wealthy London merchant supported this trip.
In May 1553, it was noted that Wyndham might use a Portuguese pilot for the journey. A future famous explorer, Martin Frobisher, was part of Wyndham's crew. Wyndham and his crew met the Oba (king) of Benin City in Africa. They traded with him.
Thomas Wyndham died at sea in 1554. This happened off the coast of Benin during his return journey.
