William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre
William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre ( June 24, 1575 - May 5, 1637 ) was an English nobleman and politician.
Origin and education
William Petre was the eldest son of Sir John Petre and his wife Mary Waldegrave. His father was a wealthy and influential member of the gentry from Essex . Petre studied at Exeter College , Oxford in 1588 , where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1591 . In 1593 he studied at the Middle Temple in London.
Political activity
The Petre family had remained secretly Catholic, and it was a triumph for Peter’s father when William was elected Knight of the Shire of the puritanical Essex in the 1597 general election. He was active on several committees in the House of Commons , but did not run again in the next general election in 1601. In 1603 he was knighted while his father was made Baron Petre . After his father's death in 1613, he inherited most of his father's estates and the title, making him a member of the House of Lords . However, since he was suspected of being a Catholic, he held few and insignificant offices. He was not appointed justice of the peace until 1623 , but this office was withdrawn from him in 1625. In 1628 he was openly indicted as a recusant , a Catholic opposed to the Church of England , and only the intervention of King Charles I saved him from conviction. He was buried in Ingatestone Church.
Family and offspring
On November 8, 1596, Petre had married Katherine Somerset († 1624), the second daughter of Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester and his wife Elizabeth Hastings. He had numerous children with her, including:
- Robert Petre, 3rd Baron Petre (1599-1638).
- Mary Petre (1600–1640) ∞ John Roper, 3rd Baron Teynham
- William Petre (1602–1677) ∞ Lucy Fermour
- John Petre († 1696) ∞ Elizabeth Pordage
- George Petre (around 1612–1647) ∞ Anne Moston
- Elizabeth Petre ∞ William Sheldon
- Catherine Petre († 1682) ∞ John Caryll
His heir became his eldest son, Robert Petre.
Web links
- William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre, on thepeerage.com , accessed November 6, 2017.
- JH: PETRE, William (1575-1637), of Ingatestone, Essex. (History of Parliament Online, Ref Volumes: 1558–1603)
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| John Petre |
Baron Petre 1613-1637 |
Robert Petre |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Petre, William, 2nd Baron Petre |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Petre, Sir William |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English nobleman and politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 24, 1575 |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 5, 1637 |