Thomas Pope

Sir Thomas Pope (c. 1507 – 29 January 1559), founder of Trinity College, Oxford, was born at Deddington, near Banbury, Oxfordshire, probably in 1507, for he was about sixteen years old when his father, a yeoman farmer, died in 1523.

He was educated at Banbury school and Eton College, and entered the Court of Chancery. He there found a friend and patron in the lord-chancellor Thomas Audley. As clerk of briefs in the star chamber, Warden of the Mint (1534–1536), clerk of the Crown in chancery (1537), and second officer and treasurer of the Court of Augmentations for the settlement of the confiscated property of the smaller religious foundations, he obtained immense wealth and influence. In this last office he was superseded in 1541, but from 1547 to 1553 he was again employed as fourth officer. He himself won by grant or purchase a considerable share in the spoils, for nearly 30 manors, which came sooner or later into his possession, were originally church property. "He could have rode," said Aubrey, "in his owne lands from Cogges (by Witney) to Banbury, about 18 miles." He established his country seat at Tittenhanger, Hertfordshire.

He was Member of Parliament for Buckingham in 1536 and for Berkshire in 1539. In 1537 he was knighted. He was High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire for 1552 and 1557. The religious changes made by Edward VI were not to his liking, but at the beginning of Mary's reign he became a member of the privy council. In 1556, he was sent to reside as guardian in Elizabeth's house.

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