William Dormer
Encyclopedia
Sir William Dormer 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.
, Wing
and London
, and his wife Jane Newdigate, daughter of John Newdigate of Harefield and Amphilicia Neville, and granddaughter of William Dormer and wife Agnes Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers
and wife Jacquetta of Luxembourg. The Dormers were landowners.
He worked as a servant of Thomas Cromwell, and was friends with Cromwell's son Gregory Cromwell
, 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 disapproved. Lady Dormer arranged a marriage with Mary Sidney, daughter of Sir William Sidney
. They had two daughters, Anne (who married Sir Walter Hungerford
), and Jane
(a lady in waiting to Queen Mary
who married the Duke of Feria the Spanish ambassador to the Court of Saint James).
After Mary, his first wife, died he married Dorothy Catesby, 20 years his junior, and they had several children, including Robert Dormer
. After his death she married Sir William Pelham.
While young, he served as a soldier in the war against France in 1544 and two years later was mustered as captain of 100 men. He later (1553 and 1568) became High Sheriff
of his county of Buckinghamshire
and eventually MP
for Buckinghamshire
(1553 and 1557).
He died at the 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.
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
knight, captain and politician, best known for a broken engagement to Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of...
, who later became the third wife of Henry VIII.
Life
William was born in 1503, the only child, son and heir, of Sir Robert Dormer of West WycombeWest Wycombe
West Wycombe is a small village situated along the A40 road, due three miles west of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.The historic village is largely a National Trust property and receives a large annual influx of tourists - being the site of West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe Caves and the...
, Wing
Wing, Buckinghamshire
Wing is a village and civil parish in Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. The village is on the main A418 road between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and his wife Jane Newdigate, daughter of John Newdigate of Harefield and Amphilicia Neville, and granddaughter of William Dormer and wife Agnes Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers
Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers
Richard Woodville , 1st Earl Rivers, KG was an English nobleman, best remembered as the father of Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV....
and wife Jacquetta of Luxembourg. The Dormers were landowners.
He worked as a servant of Thomas Cromwell, and was friends with Cromwell's son Gregory Cromwell
Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell
Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell, KB was an English peer.-Early life:Cromwell was born in Putney, then in Surrey, the first child and only son of Thomas Cromwell, later 1st Baron Cromwell and briefly 1st Earl of Essex, and his first wife, the former Elizabeth Wykys.He was tutored by Sir...
, 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 disapproved. Lady Dormer arranged a marriage with Mary Sidney, daughter of Sir William Sidney
Sir William Sidney
Sir William Sidney was an English courtier under Henry VIII and Edward VI.-Life:He was eldest son of Nicholas Sidney, by Anne, sister of Sir William Brandon...
. They had two daughters, Anne (who married Sir Walter Hungerford
Walter Hungerford (Knight of Farley)
Sir Walter Hungerford, of Farley , was an English landowner called "the Knight of Farley".-Biography:Hungerford was granted land by Edward VI in 1552, and in 1554 was restored by Queen Mary to the confiscated estate of Farley, in Somerset, when the attainder on his father, Walter Hungerford, 1st...
), and Jane
Jane Dormer
Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria was an English lady-in-waiting to Mary I who went on to serve as the Duchess of Feria.-Biography:...
(a lady in waiting to Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
who married the Duke of Feria the Spanish ambassador to the Court of Saint James).
After Mary, his first wife, died he married Dorothy Catesby, 20 years his junior, and they had several children, including Robert Dormer
Robert Dormer, 1st Baron Dormer
Robert Dormer, 1st Baron Dormer was an English peer.Dormer was the son of Sir William Dormer and his wife Dorothy .He served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1584 and was knighted in 1591...
. After his death she married Sir William Pelham.
While young, he served as a soldier in the war against France in 1544 and two years later was mustered as captain of 100 men. He later (1553 and 1568) became High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of his county of Buckinghamshire
High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. One sheriff was appointed for both counties from 1125 until the end of 1575, after which date separate sheriffs were appointed...
and eventually MP
Member of Parliament
A 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 Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckinghamshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885.Its most prominent member was...
(1553 and 1557).
He died at the 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.