William Dormer

Sir William Dormer (1503-17 May 1575) was a Tudor Knight, Captain and Politician, best known for a broken engagement to Jane Seymour, who later became the third wife of Henry VIII.

William was born in 1503, the only child, son and heir, of Sir Robert Dormer of West Wycombe, Wing and London, and his wife Jane Newdigate, daughter of John Newdigate of Harefield and Amphilicia Neville.The Dormers were landownersThe Seymours

He worked as a servant of Cromwell, and was friends with Cromwell's son George, who married Elizabeth Seymour.When he was 19 he fell in love with the 14 year old Jane Seymour. They were engaged to be married but his parents, his mother especially, were horrified. They could not understand what he saw in Jane who had neither looks nor wealth nor pedigree. Lady Dormer hurriedly arranged a marriage with the wellbred Lady Mary Sidney, daughter of Sir William Sidney. While she was beautiful, rich and wellbred, it was not a love match. When she died he married Dorothy Catesby, 20 years his junior, and they had several children.

When young, he served as a soldier in the war against France in 1944 and two years later was mustered as captain of 100 men. He later became Sherrif of his county of Buckinghamshire and eventually M.P.

He died at the very old age of 72, and was buried in the family vault in the church of Wing. His wife Dorothy had a monument built for him in the church, and founded an almshouse in the village of Wing in his memory.