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- BIOGRAPHY
Only son and heir of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, and Elizabeth Wykes, Gregory Cromwell in 1528 was educated at Cambridge, probably at Pembroke Hall, whence his tutor , John Chekyng writes, 27 July 1528 to his father, that Gregory 'is rather slow but diligent'. Gregory Cromwell and Elizabeth Seymour married before 1538. Elizabeth Seymour, was the widow of Sir Anthony Ughtred and daughter of Sir John Seymour of Wolf Hall and Margery Wentworth as well sister of Jane Seymour who would become the wife of King Henry VIII and of Edward Seymour the future Lord Protector of England. Gregory and Elizabeth had five children.
On 29 June 1540 a bill of _attainder_ against his father passed both houses, whereby all his honours were forfeited. Thomas Cromwell was condemned to death without trial, and executed 28 July 1540, on Tower Hill, declaring that he died 'in the catholic faith'.
About five months after his father's death, 18 December 1540, Gregory was created Baron Cromwell. He was one of the forty knights created K. B. on 20 February 1547 at the coronation of Edward VI. Edward VI granted Gregory the manor of Liddington, Rutland.
Gregory Cromwell died 4 July 1551 at Launde and was buried at Launde Abbey. His widow married John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester. After her death, before 9 June 1563, she was buried in Basing Church.
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