| Birth: | c. 1512 | | Death: | Oct. 28, 1571 | 
English Aristocracy. Born the son of Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green, and brother to Katherine Parr. He was said to have loved poetry, music, and living well. He married Anne Bourchier, Baroness Bourchier, the daughter of Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex, in February 1526. He sat as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire and was made Baron Parr of Kendal in 1539. In April 1543, he obtained an Act of Parliament, repudiating his wife for adultery, and declaring her children belonged to another man, and therefore illegitimate. In December 1543, shortly after his sister, Katherine, had married Henry VIII, he was created Earl of Essex, a title that had been held held by his father-in-law, who had died in 1540. Elizabeth Brooke came to court in the last years of Henry's reign and married Parr in 1547 when he was also created 1st Marquess of Northampton. They were ordered to separate, however, until his marriage to Anne Bourchier was finally terminated in 1552 through an Act of Parliament, which declared his first marriage to be annulled, and his second marriage to be valid. Under Edward VI, he was a favorite of the young king, and served as lord-lieutenant of five of the eastern counties, and as Great Chamberlain from 1550 to 1553. With the death of Edward, Parr and his wife were among the leaders in the contingent who planned to supplant Princess Mary with Lady Jane Grey. With the collapse of the plot, he was arrested and stripped of titles by Mary I in 1553, his marriage to Elizabeth Brooke was declared invalid as well. Sentenced to death, he was pardoned and released at the end of the year. With the death of Mary and the ascension of Elizabeth, he was once again in favor, his titles restored, his marriage declared valid, and his wife one of the Queen's close friends, until her death in 1564. In the last year of his life, he married Helena von Snakenborg, a member of the entourage who accompanyed the Margrave and Margravine of Baden to court. He died five months later at Warwick without legitimate children, his titles became extinct.
(bio by: Iola)
Search Amazon for William Parr | | | Burial:
St Mary Churchyard
Warwick
Warwickshire, England |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Apr 05, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 9046 |
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