Walter Beauchamp

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Sir Walter Beauchamp (sometime around 1380 – 1 January 1430) was an English lawyer who was

Speaker of the House of Commons of England between March and May 1416.[1]

Early life

Beauchamp was the second son of Sir John Beauchamp of

Royal service

Following his acquisition of the Wiltshire manors, Beauchamp served as an esquire of the royal household. It is likely that he fought for the king at Shrewsbury in 1403 and campaigned in the north against Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, and Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland in 1405. In 1415 he served as a king's knight in the royal army in France, as part of the retinue of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.

Career in politics

He was appointed

Knight of the Shire for Wiltshire
, and on 16 March 1416 was chosen speaker of the House of Commons. However, Sir Walter did not hold the office long, as Parliament was dissolved in the same year.

In 1417 he served in France again, and was at Rouen after its capture in 1419. He remained in Normandy for two years, on his return becoming treasurer of the royal household, treasurer at war and one of the executors of Henry V's will in June 1421. Shortly afterwards he passed into the service of Queen Catherine as steward of her household. He was also selected as one of the commoners to assist in the protection of the young Henry VI.

He was employed as counsel by his relative,

John Mowbray
, earl marshal, which took up much of the time of the session of 1425, was terminated by the restoration of the forfeited dukedom of Norfolk to Mowbray.

In 1429 he was made Master of the Horse.

Later life and family

His older brother was Sir William Beauchamp (died c.1421), who was also a Member of Parliament.

Sir John Roches (c.1333–1400) of Bromham, Wiltshire, and his wife Willelma, daughter and heir of Sir Robert de la Mare (1314–1382) of Steeple/Market Lavington, Wiltshire.[4] They had three children: (1) Sir William Beauchamp (1410–1457), was in 1449 summoned to Parliament as 4th Baron St Amand, in right of his wife, Elizabeth Braybrooke (daughter of Gerard Braybrook) and the great-granddaughter of Almeric St Amand, 3rd Baron St Amand; (2) Richard Beauchamp
(died 1482), bishop of Hereford and of Salisbury; and (3) Elizabeth Beauchamp, who married Richard Dudley, knight.

Walter Beauchamp was knighted in 1415. He died on 1 January 1430 and was buried at Steeple Lavington (now Market Lavington) church.[4]

References

  1. ^ "The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386–1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., (1993). https://boydellandbrewer.com/the-history-of-parliament-the-house-of-commons-1386-1421-4-volumes-hb.html
  2. .
  3. ^ J.S. Roskell, 'Three Wilts. Speakers', Wilts. Arch. Mag. lvi. 342-58. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/beauchamp-sir-walter-1430
  4. ^ a b c Roskell, J. S. "BEAUCHAMP, Sir Walter (d.1430), of Bromham and Steeple Lavington, Wilts.BEAUCHAMP, Sir Walter (d.1430), of Bromham and Steeple Lavington, Wilts". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  5. ^ Woodger, L. S. "BEAUCHAMP, Sir William (d.c.1421), of Powick, Worcs. and Alcester, Warws". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 22 October 2021.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Richard Redman
Speaker of the House of Commons
1416
Succeeded by