Sir Robert Acton (by 1497 – 28/29 September 1558), of Elmley Lovett and Ribbesford,

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...

and

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, was an English politician. He was the second son of Richard Acton of Sutton, Worcestershire. He was knighted before 5 September 1543.

Career

He entered court as a

Groom of the Chamber Groom of the Chamber was a position in the Household of the monarch in early modern England. Other ''Ancien Régime'' royal establishments in Europe had comparable officers, often with similar titles. In France, the Duchy of Burgundy, and in Eng ...

in 1518, became a page in 1526, a

Gentleman Usher Gentleman Usher and Lady Usher are titles for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. For a list of office-holders from the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 up to the present day see List of Lady and Gentleman Ushers. Gen ...

in 1528 and an Esquire of the Body in 1539. He was appointed

Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...

Haverfordwest Castle Haverfordwest Castle () is a castle located in the town centre at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, south Wales, in a naturally defensive position at the end of a strong, isolated ridge. The castle was established during Norman times in 1120 but much ...

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

by 1532-52 or later. In 1536 he was called to serve against rebels in the north of England, in 1540 he attended the reception of

Anne of Cleves Anne of Cleves (; 28 June or 22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England from 6 January to 12 July 1540 as the Wives of Henry VIII, fourth wife of Henry VIII. Little is known about Anne before 1527, ...

and in 1544 he fought in the French campaign. "He succeeded his father-in-law as King’s saddler, and inherited half his goods and all his lands". In October 1532 Acton went with

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

, fell ill there, and wrote to Cromwell for permission no to be present at the session of Parliament. In 1534 Acton was back in the House, his name was in a list of Members drawn up by Cromwell.ACTON, Robert (by 1497-1558), of Elmley Lovett and Ribbesford, Worcs. and Southwark, Surr.
Retrieved on 13 March 2018 He was appointed for life as a Justice of the Peace to the benches of Worcestershire in 1537 and Surrey in 1538. He served as

High Sheriff of Worcestershire This is a list of sheriffs and since 1998 high sheriffs of Worcestershire. The High Sheriff, Sheriff is the oldest Secularity, secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but ove ...

for 1538–39 and 1545–46 and

High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire The office of High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire was established in 1541 since then a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Powys as part of the creation of Powys Powys ( , ) ...

for 1541–42 and 1548–49 and was elected a Member of Parliament for

in 1529, 1539 and 1542. He was a member of the Council of the Marches of Wales in 1551. And he probably also been re-elected to the Parliament of 1536, in accordance with the King's general request for the return of the previous Members. After Henry VIII's death Acton remained on the commission of the peace but didn't take much part in public affairs.

Private life

He married Margery, the daughter and heiress of Nicholas Mayor of Southwark, with whom he had 2 sons and a daughter. Acton's wife brought with her to the marriage £68 a year in lands, £700 in cash, £333 in plate, a furnished house worth some £130, and £333 in debts due. Lady Acton sued her husband in the Court of Requests, complaining that between 1548 and 1553 he had spent nothing on her maintenance bar a £27 credit for some of her lands sold. The court awarded her £30 a year for life. Following this estrangement, Acton sold his wife's inheritance lands and property without any compensation to her. Instead, he left everything entailed (tied to the male line of descent) to his sons. This was restated in his will (which directed he be buried in Elmley Lovett) dated 24 September 1558. He died 4 or 5 days later, expressing himself in the will to be Protestant, but with two of his Executors being the distinguished and prominent Roman Catholics Cardinal

Reginald Pole Reginald Pole (12 March 1500 – 17 November 1558) was an English cardinal and the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1556 to 1558 during the Marian Restoration of Catholicism. Early life Pole was born at Stourt ...

and Bishop Richard Pate of Worcester.https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/acton-robert-1497-1558#footnote4_kljjw2t He acquired substantial property, including Ribbesford House in Worcestershire, Wormington Grange in Gloucestershire and the manor of Elmley Lovett in Worcestershire, which passed on his death to his sons.

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Acton, Robert Year of birth missing 1558 deaths 15th-century births Politicians from Worcestershire People from Southwark High sheriffs of Worcestershire High sheriffs of Montgomeryshire English MPs 1529–1536 English MPs 1539–1540 English MPs 1542–1544 Esquires of the Body