Family and Education
b. 28 Dec. 1510, 2nd s. of Robert Bacon of Drinkstone and Hesset, Suff. by Eleanor or Isabel, da. of John Cage of Pakenham, Suff.; bro. of Thomas. educ. Bury St. Edmunds sch.; Corpus, Camb. adm. 1523, BA 1527; G. Inn, adm. 1532, called 1536. m. disp. 5 Apr. 1540, Jane (d.Oct. 1552 or later), da. of William Ferneley of London, 4s. inc. Edward, Nathaniel and Nicholas 3da. (2) by Feb. 1553, Anne, da. of Sir Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall, Essex, 2s. Anthony and Francis 2da. Kntd. (?15) Dec. 1558.Bacon refers to ‘Children’s Day’ (28 Dec.) as his birthday in a letter of 1564. According to an inscription on a portrait dated 1579 he was then aged 68: according to a less reliable inscription on another portrait he was 55 in 1562, R. C. Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 16. This biography rests on G. Scott Thomson, ‘Three Suff. figures: Thomas Wolsey, Stephen Gardiner and Nicholas Bacon’, Procs. Suff. Inst. Arch. xxv. 194, and R. Tittler, Nicholas Bacon.
Offices Held
Bencher, G. Inn 1550, treasurer 1552 – 56, jt. (with Gilbert Gerard) treasurer 1556.
Solicitor, ct. augmentations 18 Mar. 1540 – Jan. 1547; commr. chantries, Mdx. and London 1546, Norf. 1548, relief, Suff. 1550, heresies 1552, to administer oath of supremacy, dioceses of Ely and Norwich 1559; attorney, ct. wards and liveries 2 Jan. 1547 – 8 Feb. 1561; j.p. Cambs., Suff. 1547 – d., numerous other counties 1558/59; ld. keeper of the great seal 22 Dec. 1558 – d.; PC 22 Dec. 1558 – Nov. 1563, Apr. 1565 – d.; bailiff of liberty, duchy of Lancaster, Clare honor 20 June 1559 – 24 June 1562, jt. (with s. Nicholas) steward, Clare honor 29 July 1562 – d.; high steward, St. Albans, Herts. by 1562.
Parlimentarian
Main residences: Gray's Inn; York House, London and Redgrave, Suff. and Gorhambury, Herts.
Volume
Commons 1509-1558
Web Title
BACON, Nicholas (1510-79)
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
Image