William Fleetwood (died 1630) facts for kids
Sir William Fleetwood (born 1563, died 13 December 1630) was an important English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the English Parliament, many times between 1584 and 1628.
Contents
Early Life and Family
William Fleetwood was born in 1563. His father was also named William Fleetwood, a judge from Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. His mother was Marian Barley.
Young William studied law at a place called Middle Temple starting in 1584. This was a famous school for lawyers in London.
Starting His Political Career
In 1584, when he was about 21 years old, William Fleetwood was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for a town called Preston. An MP is someone elected to represent people in Parliament. His father was a "recorder" in Preston, which meant he was a judge there. This connection likely helped William get elected.
Two years later, in 1586, he was elected as an MP again, this time for the town of Poole.
Becoming a Knight and Serving the Public
When his father passed away in 1594, William Fleetwood inherited a lot of land and property, including the historic Missenden Abbey.
He started taking on more important public roles:
- By 1597, he became a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. A J.P. helps keep law and order in their local area.
- In 1603, he was made a knight, which meant he was called "Sir William Fleetwood."
Later Years in Parliament
Sir William Fleetwood continued his work in Parliament:
- In 1604, he was elected MP for Buckinghamshire.
- He was elected MP for Buckinghamshire again in 1621.
- From 1622 to 1623, he served as the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. The High Sheriff was a very important local official responsible for law enforcement and order.
- He was re-elected MP for Buckinghamshire in 1624 and again in 1628.
He continued to serve in Parliament until 1629. At that time, King Charles I decided to rule England without Parliament for eleven years.
Family Life and Death
Sir William Fleetwood was married to Anne Barton. Together, they had a large family with seven sons and seven daughters. His wife, Anne, passed away in 1621.
Sir William Fleetwood died at the age of 66 in Great Missenden on December 13, 1630. He was buried in the local church there.
