William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham |
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| Church of St Mary, Parham, Suffolk | |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Heneage Margaret Garneys |
| Issue | |
| Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham | |
| Father | Sir Christopher Willoughby Mary Willoughby |
| Mother | Elizabeth Tailboys |
| Born | c.1515 |
| Died | 30 July 1570 |
William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham (born around 1515, died July 30, 1570) was an important English nobleman and soldier. In 1547, he became a hereditary peer, which meant he had a permanent seat in the House of Lords, a part of the English Parliament.
William Willoughby's Family Background
William Willoughby was the son of Sir Christopher Willoughby of Parham, Suffolk. His mother was Elizabeth Tailboys. She was the daughter of Sir George Tailboys.
William's father, Sir Christopher, was the younger brother of William Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. This uncle passed away in 1526 without any sons. He left behind a daughter named Katherine.
Before his death, the 11th Baron had planned to give some land to his brother, Sir Christopher. This was part of Sir Christopher's marriage agreement with Elizabeth Tailboys. However, the land transfer was not completed before the 11th Baron died. This led to a disagreement over the land.
Eventually, a special law was passed by Parliament to solve the problem. The land was divided between Sir Christopher and his niece, Katherine. Katherine later married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk.
William Willoughby's Career
William Willoughby likely worked for Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, who was King Henry VIII's son. This was around 1536. William's uncle, Gilbert Tailboys, had married Henry FitzRoy's mother, Elizabeth Blount.
William took over his father's position sometime between 1538 and 1540. He was made a knight in January 1542. In 1545, he was chosen to represent Lincolnshire in Parliament. He was known as a "knight of the shire."
On February 16, 1547, William was given the title of Baron. This meant he became a hereditary peer. He gained the right to have a seat in the House of Lords for life. His title would also pass down to his male children. From 1550 to 1552, he served as the lord deputy of Calais. This was an important English territory in France at the time.
Marriages and Children
William Willoughby married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Heneage. They married by 1536. Elizabeth was the only child of Sir Thomas Heneage.
William and Elizabeth had a son named Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham. Charles later became the 2nd Baron. They also had a daughter named Mary.
William's second wife was Margaret Garneys. They married in 1559. Margaret was the daughter of Robert Garneys. She had been married before to Walter Devereux.
William Willoughby passed away on July 30, 1570. He died at Minting Park in Lincolnshire. He was buried at Parham Church in Suffolk. His only son, Charles, inherited his title. William's second wife, Margaret, lived longer than him. She was buried in 1599.
