Thomas Gresham (died 1630)
English landowner and politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Gresham (c. 1547 – 1630) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1604 and 1622.
Thomas Gresham | |
---|---|
Born | 1547 |
Died | 1630(1630-00-00) (aged 82–83) |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Politician |
Gresham was the eldest son of William Gresham (1512–1579) and his wife Beatrice Guybon and the grandson of Sir John Gresham, who was Lord Mayor in 1547.[1]
He was educated St Alban Hall, Oxford, about 1572.[2]
On his father's death in 1579, Gresham inherited estates in and around Surrey, including Titsey Place. He was knighted in the Royal Gardens of Whitehall before the coronation of King James I on 23 July 1603.[3] Shortly after, he was involved in a legal dispute with his sister alleging slander in connection with his inheritance of Titsey.[4] In 1604 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Gatton. He was re-elected as one of the members for Gatton in 1614 and 1621[5] and Bletchingley in 1625.[6]
Gresham married Mary Leonard (ca. 1549–1620), the daughter of John Leonard (1506–1590) and Elizabeth Harmon (1520-1585) on 23 August 1587. Their son and heir was Sir Edward Gresham.[7]