Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford
Encyclopedia
Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford (c. 1599 – 21 August 1673), known as the Lord Grey of Groby from 1614 to 1628, was an English
nobleman and military leader. He was the eldest son of Sir John Grey and Elizabeth Nevill. His mother was probably a daughter of Edward Nevill, 8th Baron Bergavenny
(died 1622) and his wife Rachel Lennard.
Henry succeeded his paternal grandfather, Henry Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Groby
, as second Baron Grey of Groby in July 1614. His paternal grandmother was Anne Windsor, youngest daughter of William Windsor, 2nd Baron Windsor and his first wife Margaret Sambourne.
His great-grandfather Lord John Grey
of Pirgo was son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset
and younger brother of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk
.
in 1615, and was granted an M.A. on the King
's visit that year. He married Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter
, the heiress of the borough and manor of Stamford, and in March 1628 was created Earl of Stamford
. Just before the outbreak of the English Civil War
he was included as one of Charles I
's opponents, and was made lord lieutenant of Leicestershire
. After some operations around Leicester he occupied Hereford
, and, when compelled to abandon the city, marched to Cornwall
.
At the Battle of Stratton
, on 16 May 1643, his troops were beaten by the Royalist
s; driven into Exeter
, Stamford was forced to surrender the city after a siege of three months. He was certainly no general, and was charged with cowardice. He took no further part in the military operations of the war, although once or twice he was employed on other business.
The ravages of the Royalists had reduced him to poverty, and, distrusted by the House of Commons
, he had great difficulty in getting any compensation from Parliament. After a period of retirement he declared for Charles II of England
during a rising in August 1659, and was arrested, but was soon released. He died on 21 August 1673; his earldom passed to his grandson Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
nobleman and military leader. He was the eldest son of Sir John Grey and Elizabeth Nevill. His mother was probably a daughter of Edward Nevill, 8th Baron Bergavenny
Edward Nevill, 8th Baron Bergavenny
Edward Nevill, de facto 8th Baron Bergavenny was an English Peer.The son of Edward Nevill, 7th Baron Bergavenny, he succeeded to the Barony upon the death of his father....
(died 1622) and his wife Rachel Lennard.
Henry succeeded his paternal grandfather, Henry Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Groby
Henry Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Groby
Henry Grey, 1st Lord Grey of Groby , courtier, administrator and local politician, was the only surviving son of Lord John Grey of Pirgo, Essex, and Mary, daughter of Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu and Magdalen Dacre....
, as second Baron Grey of Groby in July 1614. His paternal grandmother was Anne Windsor, youngest daughter of William Windsor, 2nd Baron Windsor and his first wife Margaret Sambourne.
His great-grandfather Lord John Grey
Lord John Grey of Pirgo
John Grey courtier, youngest surviving son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset and Margaret, widow of William Medley and daughter of Sir Robert Wotton of Boughton Malherbe....
of Pirgo was son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset
Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset
Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, KG, KB was an English peer, courtier, soldier and landowner, the grandfather of Lady Jane Grey, briefly Queen of England.-Early life:...
and younger brother of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, KG was an English nobleman of the Tudor period and the father of Lady Jane Grey.-Henry VIII's reign:...
.
Life and career
Grey matriculated at Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1615, and was granted an M.A. on the King
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
's visit that year. He married Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter
William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter
William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter PC KG , known as Lord Burghley from 1605 to 1623, was an English peer.-Life:...
, the heiress of the borough and manor of Stamford, and in March 1628 was created Earl of Stamford
Earl of Stamford
Earl of Stamford was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1628 for Henry Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Groby. This Grey family descended through Lord John Grey, of Pirgo, Essex, younger son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, and younger brother of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk Earl...
. Just before the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he was included as one of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
's opponents, and was made lord lieutenant of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. After some operations around Leicester he occupied Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, and, when compelled to abandon the city, marched to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
At the Battle of Stratton
Battle of Stratton
The Battle of Stratton was a battle of the south-western campaign of the First English Civil War. Fought on 16 May 1643, the resulting victory for Hopton confirmed Royalist control of Cornwall and destroyed Parliament's field army in Devon.-Prelude:...
, on 16 May 1643, his troops were beaten by the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
s; driven into Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Stamford was forced to surrender the city after a siege of three months. He was certainly no general, and was charged with cowardice. He took no further part in the military operations of the war, although once or twice he was employed on other business.
The ravages of the Royalists had reduced him to poverty, and, distrusted by the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, he had great difficulty in getting any compensation from Parliament. After a period of retirement he declared for Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
during a rising in August 1659, and was arrested, but was soon released. He died on 21 August 1673; his earldom passed to his grandson Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford PC was a British peer and politician.He was the only son of Thomas, Lord Grey of Groby, and inherited his title from his grandfather....
.
Children
He had at least nine children:- Lady Elizabeth Grey (born c. 1622). She married George Booth, 1st Baron DelamerGeorge Booth, 1st Baron DelamerGeorge Booth, 1st Baron Delamer , known as Sir George Booth, 2nd Baronet, from 1652 to 1661, was an English peer.-Civil War:...
and was the mother of Henry Booth, 1st Earl of WarringtonHenry Booth, 1st Earl of WarringtonHenry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington was a Member of Parliament, Privy Councillor, Protestant protagonist in the Revolution of 1688, Mayor of Chester and author.-Life:...
. - Thomas Grey, Lord Grey of GrobyThomas Grey, Lord Grey of GrobyThomas Grey, Lord Grey of Groby , was an elected Member of Parliament for Leicester during the English Long Parliament, an active member of the Parliamentary party and a regicide...
(c. 1623 - 1657), Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. - Lady Diana Grey (before 1631 - 8 April 1689). She married Robert Bruce, 2nd Earl of Elgin and was the mother of Thomas Bruce, 3rd Earl of Elgin.
- Anchitell GreyAnchitell GreyAnchitell Grey was a member of the Parliament of England from 1665 until 1695, representing the city of Derby. Though he spoke rarely, he kept a detailed diary of proceedings in the House of Commons, summarising the speeches he heard...
(d. 1702), the compiler of the Debates of the House of Commons, 1667-1694 (10 vols, 1769). - John Grey. He married Lady Catherine Ward, daughter of Edward Ward, 7th Baron Dudley and his wife Frances Brereton. They were parents of Harry Grey, 3rd Earl of StamfordHarry Grey, 3rd Earl of StamfordHarry Grey, 3rd Earl of Stamford was an English peer. He was somewhat eccentric, displaying this mainly in the construction of whimsical buildings....
. - Jane Grey. Married into the Ogle family.
- Leonard Grey. Believed to have died young.
- Anna Grey. Believed to have died young.
- Mary Grey. Believed to have died young.