Richard Newport (died 1570)

Richard Newport (by 1511–12 September 1570) was an English landowner and politician of Shropshire origin, prominent regionally during the mid-Tudor and early Elizabethan periods .

Richard Newport was the eldest son of

The Newports were one of the leading families in Shropshire, a county dominated throughout the 16th century by its landed gentry, although they had land in several other counties. Thomas Newport himself greatly expanded the Newports' wealth. John Leland observed that "This man, and Mitton of Cotton by Shrobsbyri had Syr John Boroues landes in Shropshir and Warwik." This partnership is confirmed by land records showing, for example, that Newport and Mitton, together with John Lingen, their cousin and Sir John Burgh's grandson, sold their interest in Burgh's wood at Stirchley in 1501 to another cousin, Sir Edward Leighton of Wattlesborough. Newport also inherited land in Kent from Henry Grey, 4th (7th) Baron Grey of Codnor.

The Corbets were another of the group of powerful gentry families that dominated the county. Anne Corbet's brothers, Roger,Richard and Reginald, were all major landowners with numerous connections at court and, at various times, MPs. Both Richard and Reginald were prominent members of the powerful Council in the Marches of Wales, and Reginald a Justice of the King's Bench: both were considerably younger than their sister Anne, and probably not older than their nephew Richard Newport.

Newport was admitted to the Inner Temple by its ruling parliament on 7 May 1525. The date of Newport's admission to the Inner Temple is the main guide to his date of birth. The parliament noted that he had paid a fine of 26s 8d or two marks to be excused holding any office at his Inn or having to attend during the vacations, these being the vacation periods at the law courts, when important academic lectures and discussions were scheduled for the students. This suggests that his legal education was never intended to be at a professional level, but simply the rudiments useful to a future landowner and local politician. Nevertheless, it was an important source of contacts: Newport was to have close social and political links with other Inner Templars throughout his career.

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