Philip Gawdy MP (1562 - 1617)

Ancestors

Died 27 May 1617 at age 54 in London, England

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Biography

Philip Gawdy, born 13 July 1562, was an English Member of Parliament and letter writer. He was the son of Bassingbourne Gawdy Sr. and Anne Wotton.

At first Philip Gawdy studied law in London, and looked for opportunities at the royal court. In 1591 he joined the crew of the Revenge commanded by Sir Richard Grenville (1542-1591) in a small fleet under Lord Thomas Howard (1561-1626). After encountering the Spanish at the Battle of Flores (1591), Gawdy was captured and imprisoned in Lisbon at São Jorge Castle. He was released after undertaking to pay £200 in an exchange of prisoners.

Gawdy was elected as a member of Parliament for Thetford in 1589 and represented this and other constituencies until his death in 1617. It has been said that Gawdy was conspicuous both for the brevity of his speeches, none of which were recorded, and the slovenliness of his appearance.

Around 1597, Gawdy married Bridget, daughter of Bartholomew Strangman of Hadleigh, Essex. She died in 1609. He died of a surfeit in his lodgings in Chancery Lane on 27 May 1617, and was buried at St. Dunstan-in-the-West.

Sources

• Wikipedia contributors, "Philip Gawdy," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philip_Gawdy&oldid=1063408731 (accessed December 3, 2022).
• GAWDY, Philip (1562-1617), of West Harling, Norf. and Whitehall; later of Chancery Lane, London Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. (http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/gawdy-philip-1562-1617 : accessed 2 December 2022)