Background
Goodwin was the son of Sir John Goodwin and his second wife Anne Spencer, daughter of Sir William Spencer.
Goodwin was the son of Sir John Goodwin and his second wife Anne Spencer, daughter of Sir William Spencer.
Foreign the architect see Francis Goodwin
He was elected Member of Parliament for Wycombe in 1589. From 1591 he was a Justice of the Peace for Buckinghamshire and in 1596 was commissioner for musters. He was knighted in 1601.
Goodwin"s election for Buckinghamshire in 1604 in circumstances where he was challenged over outlawry led to a significant constitutional confrontation, "Goodwin"s Case", between the House of Commons and James I of England.
The result was ultimately overturned but Goodwin was elected later that year in a by-election for Buckingham after the death of the sitting Member of Parliament. He was elected Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire again in 1614. He was re-elected Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in 1621.
He obtained a grant from the king of the whole of his inheritance of Upper Winchendon in about 1623. From 1623 to 1624 he was High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire again in 1625 and in 1626.
Goodwin died at the age of about 70 in 1634. Goodwin married Elizabeth Grey, daughter of Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton.
Useless Parliament; Addled Parliament. 2nd Parliament of King Charles I]
In 1586, he was elected Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire.