William Roper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Roper
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| High Sheriff of Kent | |
| In office 1554–1555 |
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| Monarch | Mary I |
| Preceded by | Robert Southwell |
| Succeeded by | Sir Thomas Kempe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1496 |
| Died | 4 January 1578 (aged 81-82) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Elizabeth Margaret Thomas Mary Anthony |
| Alma mater | Lincoln's Inn |
William Roper (born around 1496, died January 4, 1578) was an important English lawyer and a member of Parliament. He was known for marrying Margaret, the daughter of the famous Sir Thomas More. William Roper also wrote a very important book about his father-in-law's life.
Contents
William Roper's Early Life and Family
William Roper was the oldest son of John Roper, who was a top lawyer for King Henry VIII. His mother was Jane, whose father was Sir John Fyneux, a chief judge. The Roper family was very old and important in Kent, England. They owned a large estate near Canterbury.
William went to one of England's universities and then studied law at Lincoln's Inn. He became a lawyer in 1525. He took over his father's job as Clerk of the Pleas in the Court of King's Bench. He kept this job almost until he died.
Marriage to Margaret More
Around the age of 23, William Roper joined the household of Sir Thomas More. In 1521, he married Margaret More, who was Sir Thomas More's oldest daughter. They lived together in a place called Well Hall in Eltham, Kent.
A famous scholar named Erasmus knew the More family well. He described William Roper as a young man who was "wealthy, of excellent and modest character." He also said Roper was "not unacquainted with literature," meaning he was educated.
William Roper's Faith and Beliefs
For a time, William Roper became interested in a new religious idea called Lutheranism. This idea focused on "Justification by Faith," meaning people could be saved by their faith alone. He spoke openly about his beliefs, which led to him being called before Cardinal Wolsey because some thought he was teaching new, different ideas.
Sir Thomas More often talked with William about his religious views. More was a very strong believer in the traditional Catholic faith. He once told his daughter Margaret that he had tried to guide William, but it wasn't working. He decided to stop arguing and instead pray for William. William Roper later said that it was these prayers from Sir Thomas More that helped him return to the Catholic faith.
William and Margaret Roper also took in a young woman named Margaret Throckmorton. She later became a leader at a religious house in Leuven.
William Roper's Public Service
William Roper served as a member of Parliament several times between 1529 and 1558. He represented different areas like Rochester and Canterbury. He was also appointed High Sheriff of Kent for the years 1554 to 1555.
Even though he remained a Roman Catholic, he was allowed to keep his job as a prothonotary (a type of court official) after Queen Elizabeth I came to power. However, William Roper wrote some strong words against Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, in his book about Sir Thomas More. This made many people loyal to Queen Elizabeth and Protestants upset with him.
Writing a Biography of Sir Thomas More
William Roper wrote a very important book about the life of his father-in-law, Sir Thomas More. He wrote it during the time of Queen Mary I, nearly 20 years after More had died.
His book was not printed until 1626, but it became a main source for anyone wanting to learn about Sir Thomas More's early life. This was because William Roper had known his father-in-law very well and had lived with him for many years.
Images for kids
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A portrait of William Roper.
