Thomas Hoo, 1st Baron Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of the Garter was a Knight of the Garter and English courtier.
Background
Thomas was the son of Sir Thomas Hoo (ca 1370 – Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, 23 August 1420) and wife (m 1395) Eleanor de Felton (Litcham, Norfolk, 1378 – 8 August 1400). He succeeded his father in 1420, inheriting the family"s ancestral home of Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire as well as Mulbarton, Norfolk and other estates.
Career
He fought for Henry VI of England in France, and for his services was made, first Keeper of the Seals, then Chancellor of France. In 1439, he was granted the castle, lordship and honour of Hastings, and in 1445 elected Knight of the Garter. Two years later he was created Baron of Hoo and Hastings.
Lord Hoo died 13 February 1454/5.
The brothers are interred together in the Dacre Tomb at Herstmonceux All Saints Church in Sussex. Hoo makes a cameo appearance in the first few chapters of Harry Turtledove"s alternate history novel Opening Atlantis.
His purpose in the story is so that settlers in a fictitious continent, halfway between Europe and America, can found a city named Hooville after him. As the book was released around the Holiday season, this may be a humourous literary allusion.