William West, 1st Baron De La Warr facts for kids

William West, 1st Baron De La Warr (born around 1530 – died December 30, 1595) was an important English nobleman. He was the first person to hold the title of Baron De La Warr in a new creation of the peerage. William was the son of Sir George West and Elizabeth Morton. His uncle, Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr, adopted him as his heir.

Becoming a Baron

William West's journey to becoming a baron was quite dramatic. His uncle, the 9th Baron, had no children of his own. So, he decided to adopt William as his heir. However, things got complicated.

A Family Dispute

Around 1549, William's uncle tried to stop William from inheriting his title and lands. This was because William had been accused of trying to get his inheritance too early. He was even held in the Tower of London for a while. In 1550, a special law was passed by Parliament to prevent him from inheriting any honors.

Trouble and Forgiveness

Even though his uncle later changed his mind and made William his heir again, William couldn't inherit the title when his uncle died in 1554. This was because of the law passed earlier.

A couple of years later, William got into more trouble. He was involved in a plot against the Queen. He was found guilty of treason, which is a very serious crime against the ruler. However, he was lucky. Queen Mary I pardoned him in 1557, meaning she forgave him and he was not executed.

Restoration and New Title

After being pardoned, William West fought bravely in a battle at St. Quentin. Later, when Queen Elizabeth I became queen, his rights were restored. On February 5, 1570, he was made a knight. On the very same day, he was given the new title of Baron De La Warr. This was seen as a brand new title, not just inheriting the old one.

Role as a Nobleman

As a baron, William West took part in important events. He served as a peer, which means he was a member of the House of Lords. He was involved in the trials of other important noblemen, like Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

His title was considered a new one. However, his son and the people who came after him were given a higher rank in the House of Lords. This was as if they had inherited the older title from his uncle.

Family Life

William West married Elizabeth Strange. Together, they had three sons and three daughters.

His Children

• Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr: He inherited his father's title and became the next Baron De La Warr.
• William West: He traveled to Virginia in America in 1610. Sadly, he was killed by Native Americans later that year. He never married or had children.
• Mary West: She married Richard Blount. They had five daughters.
• Jane West: She married several times and had children, including Richard Wenman, who later became Viscount Wenman.
• Elizabeth West: She never married.
• William Hugh West

William West passed away on December 30, 1595. His son, Thomas West, became the 2nd Baron De La Warr.