Background
He was born the son of John Skinner, a mercer of Thorpe-by-Wainfleet, Lincolnshire.
He was born the son of John Skinner, a mercer of Thorpe-by-Wainfleet, Lincolnshire.
He matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1557, graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1561 and Master of Arts
In 1564 and entered Lincoln"s Inn in 1565. He held a number of public offices, including Constable of Bolingbroke Castle and Lincoln Castle in 1583. He was secretary to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley from c1575 to 1593, after which was appointed to the Exchequer as an auditor of the receipt.
Subsequently he sat for Barnstaple in 1572, Boston three times from 1584.
Foreign Boroughbridge in 1592. Foreign Street Ives in 1597 and for Preston in 1604.
He was knighted in 1603 and received the manor of Thornton, including Thornton Abbey, in Lincolnshire in consideration of his service to Sir Oliver Cromwell. He commissioned the architect John Thorpe to build a stately home on the foundations of the ruined abbey, which unfortunately collapsed shortly after its completion.
On his death he was buried at Street Andrew’s, Holborn, London.
He was a Member of Parliament for Truro in 1571.