William GREY

(13th B. Grey of Wilton)

Died: 15 Dec 1562, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Notes: Knight of the Garter.

Father: Edmund GREY (9° B. Grey of Wilton)

Mother: Florence HASTINGS (B. Grey of Wilton)

Married: Mary SOMERSET (B. Grey of Wilton) ABT 1535

Children:

1. Arthur GREY (14° B. Grey of Wilton)

2. Honora GREY

3. William GREY

Son of Edmund Grey, ninth Baron Grey of Wilton, by his wife Florence, dau. of Ralph Hastings and Anne Tattershall. Succeeded his brother Richard in 1521. He married in 1535 Mary, dau. of Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester.

Distinguished in the wars in France during the concluding years of Henry VIII's reign, and wounded at the battle of Pinkie in 1547, when he was one of the leaders of the victorious English army. He was then employed on the Scottish marches and in Scotland, and in 1549 he rendered good service in suppressing the rebellion in Oxfordshire and in the west of England.

In 1551 he was imprisoned as a friend of the fallen protector, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and he was concerned in the attempt made by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to place Lady Jane Grey on the English throne in 1553. However, he was pardoned by Queen Mary and was entrusted with the defence of Guines. Although indifferently supported he defended the town with gallantry, but in Jan 1558 he was forced to surrender and for some time he remained a prisoner in France.

Under Elizabeth, Grey was again employed on the Scottish border, and he was responsible for the pertinacious but unavailing attempt to capture Leith in May 1560.

He died at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He was described by William Cecil as "a noble, valiant, painful and careful gentleman", and his son and successor, Arthur, wrote 'A Commentary of the Services and Charges of William, Lord Grey of Wilton, K.G.'.

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