William Godolphin (1515-1570)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Godolphin was a 16th century English soldier and Member of Parliament
(MP), whose career has, however, been so confused with that of his father and namesake Sir William
that it is sometimes difficult to be sure which of the two held which offices. The father was Member for Cornwall
and High Sheriff
during the reign of Henry VIII
; the son worked closely with Thomas Cromwell as a young man, and with the help of Cromwell's support was elected MP for Cornwall in 1539.
After Cromwell's fall, Godolphin acquired a considerable military reputation. He seems to have been drafted into the army command as an engineer, drawing on his knowledge of tin mining (which was the main source of his family's income in Cornwall). His most important contribution was at the Siege of Boulogne, Carew in his Survey of Cornwall saying of him "He demeaned himself very valiantly beyond seas, as appeared by the scars he brought home, no less to the beautifying of his fame, than the disfiguring of his face". After the capture of Boulogne, he was made its bailiff in recognition of the part he played in the victory, and also knighted. He was a member of the Council of Regency from 1547 to 1551, High Sheriff of Cornwall
in 1549-50 and 1568-9, and its MP once more in 1553. He was also a Vice-Warden of Stannaries, and Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall
from 1562 until his death in 1570.
Sir William married Blanch Langdon and had three daughters, but leaving no male issue his estates passed to his nephew, Francis Godolphin
.
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,...
(MP), whose career has, however, been so confused with that of his father and namesake Sir William
William Godolphin (Warden of the Stannaries)
Sir William Godolphin was a 16th century English Member of Parliament. He sat as Member for Cornwall during the reign of Henry VIII and possibly also of Edward VI, and also served as High Sheriff of Cornwall and Warden of the Stannaries...
that it is sometimes difficult to be sure which of the two held which offices. The father was Member for Cornwall
Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)
Cornwall is a former county constituency covering the county of Cornwall, in the South West of England. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
and High Sheriff
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
during the reign of 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...
; the son worked closely with Thomas Cromwell as a young man, and with the help of Cromwell's support was elected MP for Cornwall in 1539.
After Cromwell's fall, Godolphin acquired a considerable military reputation. He seems to have been drafted into the army command as an engineer, drawing on his knowledge of tin mining (which was the main source of his family's income in Cornwall). His most important contribution was at the Siege of Boulogne, Carew in his Survey of Cornwall saying of him "He demeaned himself very valiantly beyond seas, as appeared by the scars he brought home, no less to the beautifying of his fame, than the disfiguring of his face". After the capture of Boulogne, he was made its bailiff in recognition of the part he played in the victory, and also knighted. He was a member of the Council of Regency from 1547 to 1551, High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
in 1549-50 and 1568-9, and its MP once more in 1553. He was also a Vice-Warden of Stannaries, and Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall
Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.* Sir John Chamond ?–1544* Sir Richard Grenville 1544–1550* Sir John Arundell bef. 1558 – aft. 1558* Sir William Godolphin bef. 1562–1570* Peter Edgcumbe bef...
from 1562 until his death in 1570.
Sir William married Blanch Langdon and had three daughters, but leaving no male issue his estates passed to his nephew, Francis Godolphin
Francis Godolphin (1540-1608)
Sir Francis Godolphin was an English Member of Parliament. The nephew of Sir William Godolphin, who left no male issue, he succeeded to his uncle's estates early in Queen Elizabeth's reign...
.