Background
Fanshawe was the second son of Thomas Fanshawe and first son by his second wife Joan Smythe, daughter of Customer Smythe and was baptised on 15 September 1580.
Fanshawe was the second son of Thomas Fanshawe and first son by his second wife Joan Smythe, daughter of Customer Smythe and was baptised on 15 September 1580.
He was educated at Queens" College, Cambridge and admitted at the Inner Temple in 1595.
His father was Queen"s Remembrancer of the Exchequer. He was an auditor for the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1601, he inherited the estate of Jenkins and Barking Manor, Essex, on the death of his father.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1604.
In 1606 became a barrister. He was re-elected Member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1614 and 1621.
He was knighted by King James in 1624. He was reelected Member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1624, 1625, 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.
Fanshawe married Anne Babington, daughter of Urias Babington and had three sons, of which only one, Thomas, survived him.
He was half-brother of Sir Henry Fanshawe.
Useless Parliament; Happy Parliament. Addled Parliament; 2nd Parliament of King Charles I]
Also in 1601 Fanshawe was elected Member of Parliament for Bedford.