Henry Glemham

Who is Henry Glemham?

Sir Henry Glemham was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1593 and 1622.

Glemham was the eldest son of Thomas Glemham of Glemham Hall, Suffolk and his wife Amy Parker, daughter of Henry Parker, 10th Baron Morley. He was a minor when he inherited the estate of Glemham on the death of his father in 1571. He entered Inner Temple in 1585. He was knighted in 1591. In 1593, he was elected Member of Parliament for Lewes. He was re-elected MP for Lewes in 1597.

In 1600 Glemham obtained a licence to travel abroad and visited Rome to help his fellow-countrymen. When he arrived in Rome, he was imprisoned as a suspected spy and was released through the efforts of the Jesuit Robert Persons. Queen Elizabeth heard of Glemham's meeting with Persons, and Glemham was put in the Fleet Prison on his return to England. Glemham's father in law Lord Buckhurst intervened and Glemham was eventually released. In 1601 he was elected knight of the shire for Suffolk. He was a J.P. for Suffolk and commissioner for musters in 1601. In 1604 he was elected Member of Parliament for Ipswich and was a Deputy Lieutenant by 1613.