Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane
Encyclopedia
Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane (1479/1492 – 28 July 1541), known as Lord Leonard Grey prior to 1536, served as Lord Deputy of Ireland
from 1536 to 1540.
On receiving instructions from King Henry VIII
, Grey commanded an army which he led against Irish rebels who would not acknowledge Henry's supremacy as supreme head of the Church of England
, and renounce the Pope. He was said to have been so cruel that he shortened the life of the Deputy, William Skeffington
. Grey was created Viscount Graney in the Peerage of Ireland
on 2 January 1536.
Grey was accused of allowing the escape of his sister Elizabeth's
son, the young Earl of Kildare
to France
in 1539, which he strenuously denied. Grey was nevertheless tried and attainted of high treason
, and subsequently executed at the Tower of London
on 28 July 1541 by the orders of Henry VIII..
He was the second son of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset
and Cecily Bonville, Baroness Harington and Bonville. His wife was Eleanor Sutton, daughter of Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley.
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
from 1536 to 1540.
On receiving instructions from King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, Grey commanded an army which he led against Irish rebels who would not acknowledge Henry's supremacy as supreme head of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and renounce the Pope. He was said to have been so cruel that he shortened the life of the Deputy, William Skeffington
William Skeffington
Sir William Skeffington , was a Lord Deputy of Ireland.-Early life:He was born in Skeffington, Leicestershire. His brother John was the patriarch of the Massareene family. He was appointed High Sheriff of Leicestershire and Warwickshire for 1508, 1515 and 1521 in the reign of Henry VII and was...
. Grey was created Viscount Graney in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
on 2 January 1536.
Grey was accused of allowing the escape of his sister Elizabeth's
Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare
Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare , was an English noblewoman, and the second wife of Irish peer Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare...
son, the young Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare , also known as the "Wizard Earl" , was an Irish peer....
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1539, which he strenuously denied. Grey was nevertheless tried and attainted of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, and subsequently executed at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
on 28 July 1541 by the orders of Henry VIII..
He was the second son of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset
Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset
Thomas Grey, 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and 1st Marquess of Dorset, KG , was an English nobleman, courtier and a man of mediocre abilities pushed into prominence by his mother Elizabeth Woodville's second marriage to the king, Edward IV.-Family:Thomas was born about 1455,...
and Cecily Bonville, Baroness Harington and Bonville. His wife was Eleanor Sutton, daughter of Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley.