Anthony Stapleton was a Tudor lawyer, Member of Parliament, and Clerk of the City of London.
Background
Anthony Stapleton, born by 1514, came of a family long settled in Yorkshire. He was the third son of George Stapleton of Rempstone, Nottinghamshire, and Margaret Gasgill, the daughter and co-heir of William Gasgill of Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. His father, George Stapleton, was the second son of Sir Bryan Stapleton by Joan or Jane Lovell, the daughter of John Lovell, 8th Baron Lovell (d1464), and sister of Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell.
Education
He was educated at the Inner Temple, and was active in its affairs throughout his life.
Career
In her 1537 will Elizabeth (née Scrope), Dowager Countess of Oxford, bequeathed Anthony Stapleton ten pounds ‘towards his learning at the common law’. He "rarely missed a parliament" of the Inner Temple, was Reader in 1543, 1544, and 1553, "and held the highest offices", serving as Treasurer during the years 1555-1557, and as Governor in 1555 and 1566. In 1544 he was appointed Recorder for Colchester in Essex, perhaps through Lord Oxford"s influence, and in the same year was granted the reversion of the office of Town Clerk of London, although he was not able to take up the position until 24 July 1570.
In 1554 he was elected to Parliament for East Grinstead.
He was granted a leave from his position as Clerk of the City of London in early 1574 on grounds of illness, and appears to have died shortly thereafter, as his successor in the clerkship took up the position on 25 May 1574. His will was proved on 12 October 1575.
Membership
By the early 1550s he was a member of Oxford"s council.