The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

THOMAS CROMWELL

Thomas Cromwell was Earl of Essex and an English administrator. He was born in 1485 and died in 1540. The son of a blacksmith at Putney, in Surreym in his youth he was employed as clerk to the English factory at Antwerp; in 1510 went to Rome; and on his return to England became confidential servant of Cardinal Wolsey, about 1525. On his master's disgrace in 1529 Thomas Cromwell defended him with great spirit in the House of Commons, of which he was then a member; and effectually opposed the articles of treason brought against Wolsey. After the cardinal's death he was taken into the king's service, was knighted and made privy-councillor, and in 1534 became principal secretary of state and master of the rolls. In 1535 he was appointed visitor-general of all the monasteries in England, in order to suppress them, his services being rewarded by the post of lord-keeper of the privy seal, and the title of Baron Cromwell of Okeham.

On the abolition of the pope's supremacy he was created king's vicar-general, and used all his influence to promote the Reformation. He was made chief-justice itinerant of the forests beyond Trent, knight of the Garter, and finally, in 1539, lord high chancellor, and the following year Earl of Essex. He at length fell into disgrace with the king for the part he took in promoting his marriage with Anne of Cleves; and others of his political schemes failing, he was arrested on a charge of treason, and beheaded on Tower Hill on July the 28th, 1540.
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