Richard Southwell

Sir Richard Southwell PC (c. 1502/1503 – 11 January1564) was an English Privy Councillor.

Early years

He was born at Windham Manor in Norfolk, the son of Francis Southwell, an auditor of the exchequer, and Dorothy (née Tendring). Richard's father died in 1512, and he inherited the estate [on the 2 September 1512] . Less than two years later [on 30 March 1914] he was also to inherit the estate of his uncle Robert Southwall who had served as chief butler to Henry VII. In 1515 he became the ward of his uncle's widow and William Wootton. In 1519 Thomas Wyndham acquired the wardship.

Marriage and early career

Wyndham married Southwell to his stepdaughter Thomasin, who was the daughter of Roger Darcy of Danbury and sister of Thomas Darcy. In 1526 he entered Lincoln's Inn. He became tutor to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas. For some period Gregory lived with Southwell in Woodrising manor in Norfolk, which Southwell had inherited from his uncle.

In 1531 Southwell became a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Murder and pardon

In 1531, Southwell was involved in the murder of Sir William Pennington and the following year he paid a fine of £1000 to obtain a pardon.

Later career

From 1534 to 1535, Southwell was Sheriff of Norfolk. He was a witness in the trial of Sir Thomas More, where he claimed not to have heard the details of the damning conversation between Richard Rich and the accused. He was a member of the House of Commons from around 1536. It was in 1536 that his portrait was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. He played a part in the downfall of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was an executor of Henry VIII of England's will.

Southwell was one of the signatories of "The Will of King Edward the Sixth, and His Devise for the Succession to the Crown". He was appointed to the Privy Council on 12 March 1547, although he was removed from the full council the following year. He was reappointed by Mary of England. Southwell was described as the driving force behind the plan to marry Elizabeth I of England to Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon.

Notes

References

*Stanford Lehmberg, 'Southwell, Sir Richard (1502/3–1564)', "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004

External links

* [http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/RichardSouthwell1.htm Biography, details of which are taken from the "History of Parliament"]
* [http://www.abcgallery.com/H/holbein/holbein28.html Holbein's drawing of Sir Richard in Windsor]
* [http://www.abcgallery.com/H/holbein/holbein29.html Holbein's painting of Sir Richard in Uffizi]
* [http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/EdwardWill.htm Edward VI's Will and Device for Succession] ]
* [http://www.oxforddnb.com/public/dnb/26062.html ODNB entry]