William Essex

Sir William Essex (c. 1477–1548) of Lambourn, Berkshire was an English soldier and courtier who served as High Sheriff and Member of Parliament.

He was the son of Thomas Essex of Lambourn in Berkshire by his wife, Elizabeth Babthorpe, a daughter of William Babthorpe of Ellistown in Leicestershire.

[1] He fought as a captain in the French campaigns of 1512 and 1513 and was knighted at Tournai.

As a courtier he attended the wedding of Mary Tudor to Louis XII of France.

He was also present in 1520 at the Field of Cloth of Gold and the meeting with Charles V at Gravelines.

Monument of Sir Thomas Essex (son of Sir William Essex) and his wife Margaret Sandys, St Michael and All Angels Church, Lambourn