William Stourton (speaker) facts for kids
William Stourton (who passed away in 1413) was an important person from Stourton, a village in Wiltshire, England. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons for a short time in 1413. During this period, he was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorset.
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William Stourton's Life
William Stourton was the son of John Stourton, who also lived in Stourton, Wiltshire. William had a younger half-brother named John Stourton (who died in 1438). This younger John was also a Member of Parliament for Somerset many times.
His Role in Parliament
William Stourton was elected to Parliament several times. He represented Somerset as a "knight of the shire" in 1401, 1402, and 1404. A knight of the shire was a representative for a county in Parliament. He also represented Wiltshire in 1407. Later, he represented Dorset in 1410 and again in May 1413.
Becoming Speaker of the House
In May 1413, when he was representing Dorset, William Stourton was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom). The Speaker is like the referee or chairperson of the House of Commons, making sure debates run smoothly and rules are followed. He served as Speaker for about a month, from May to June 1413.
Family and Legacy
William Stourton married a woman named Elizabeth Moigne. She was the daughter of Sir John Moigne from Owermoigne, Dorset. Together, William and Elizabeth had a son named John Stourton, 1st Baron Stourton (1400–1462). This son later became a "peer," which means he was given a special title and became a member of the House of Lords in 1448. William and Elizabeth also had a daughter.
William Stourton passed away in 1413. He was buried at Witham Priory.
