William Damsell facts for kids
Sir William Damsell (around 1520 – June 16, 1582), sometimes spelled Damosel, was an important person in England during the time of kings and queens. He worked for the government as the Receiver-General of the Court of Wards and Liveries and was also a Member of Parliament.
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Who Was Sir William Damsell?
Sir William Damsell came from a respectable family in Devon, a county in England. He went to the University of Oxford to study, but we don't know if he finished with a degree. He was very good at learning different languages.
Early Career and Skills
From 1546 to 1552, Damsell worked for the King in a region called the Seventeen Provinces, which is now mostly the Netherlands. This shows he was trusted with important tasks abroad. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, a powerful group of merchants in London.
Serving in Parliament
Sir William Damsell became a Member of Parliament (MP) several times.
- In 1553, he was elected to the House of Commons of England for Wilton.
- In 1555, he represented Arundel.
- In 1563, he was chosen to represent Hastings. This Parliament lasted for several years, until 1567.
Working for the Crown
In June 1553, Damsell signed a document about who should become the next king after King Edward VI. Even so, after Queen Mary became queen, she knighted him on October 2, 1553. Being knighted meant he was given the title "Sir."
Later, Queen Mary appointed him as the Receiver-General of the Court of Wards and Liveries. This court managed the lands and money of young people who inherited property but were too young to look after it themselves.
Other Interests and Legacy
Also in 1553, Sir William Damsell bought a place called Wye College in Kent.
A book of poems called The Travayled Pylgrime, written by Stephen Batman in 1569, was dedicated to Sir William Damsell. This shows he was a respected and important figure of his time.
Sir William Damsell passed away on June 16, 1582. He was buried at the church of St Mary Aldermanbury in London. In his will, he left one hundred pounds to help poor students at Oxford University. He said this was because he had been a student there himself a long time ago.
