Background
Thomas Bromley was born in Staffordshire, United Kingdom in 1530; the son of George Bromley and Jane Lacon.
Thomas Bromley was born in Staffordshire, United Kingdom in 1530; the son of George Bromley and Jane Lacon.
Bromley was educated at Oxford University. He received the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University in 1560
Bromley was called to the bar at the Middle Temple. Through family influence as well as the patronage of Sir Nicholas Bacon, the lord keeper, he quickly made progress in his profession. In 1566 he was appointed recorder of London, and in 1569 he became solicitor-general. He sat in parliament successively for Bridgnorth, Wigan and Guildford. On the death of Sir Nicholas Bacon in 1579 he was appointed Lord Chancellor. As an equity judge he showed great and profound knowledge. He presided over the commission which tried Mary, queen of Scots, in 1586, but the strain of the trial, coupled with the responsibility which her execution involved upon him, proved too much for his strength, and he died on the 12th of April 1587. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
He was married to Elizabeth Fortescue. They had four sons and four daughters. Their eldest son and heir was married to Elizabeth Pelham. Elizabeth Bromley, Thomas's daughter, married Oliver Cromwell, uncle of the Lord Protector. Another daughter Anne Bromley married Richard Corbet, son of Reginald Corbet, a distinguished judge.
