Anthony Denny
Encyclopedia
Sir Anthony Denny was a confidant
of Henry VIII of England
. Denny was the most prominent member of the Privy chamber
in Henry's last years having, together with his brother-in-law John Gates
, charge of the "dry stamp" of Henry's signature, and attended Henry on his deathbed. He also served as Groom of the Stool
. He was a member of the reformist
circle that offset the conservative religious influence of Gardiner. He was a wealthy man, having acquired manors and former religious sites through the Court of augmentations
. By 1548 he was keeper of Westminster Palace.
Anthony Denny was the son of Sir Edmund Denny, chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was educated at St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge
. In 1547 he was elected knight of the shire (MP) for Hertfordshire
.
Along with the Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford
, John Dudley, Viscount Lisle
and Sir William Paget
, Denny helped to finalise Henry VIII's will upon his deathbed in 1547. Denny specifically argued to Henry on several occasions against the removal of Stephen Gardiner
from the will. Denny was himself the man to tell Henry of his coming death, advising the old King "to prepare for his final agony". Denny's position gave him both the power to control who saw Henry in his last years (in which he spent excessive time in the Privy Chambers), and influence through his personal relationship with the ageing King. Along with Sir William Paget, the Principal Secretary
, Denny is suspected of having fixed the choosing of the "Progressive" appeals, headed by Edward Seymour.
In 1525, Anthony married Joan Champernowne
, sister to Katherine Ashley, the governess of the future Queen Elizabeth I
. They had 12 children. A son was Sir Edward Denny, Knight Banneret of Bishops Stortford
1547-1599, cousin to Walter Raleigh
.
Confidant
The confidant is a character in a story that the lead character confides in and trusts. Typically, these consist of the best friend, relative, doctor or boss.- Role :...
of Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. Denny was the most prominent member of the Privy chamber
Privy chamber
A Privy chamber was the private apartment of a royal residence in England. The gentlemen of the Privy chamber were servants to the Crown who would wait and attend on the King and Queen at court during their various activities, functions and entertainments....
in Henry's last years having, together with his brother-in-law John Gates
John Gates (courtier)
Sir John Gates KB was an English courtier and soldier, holding influential household positions in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. One of the Chief Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber under Edward VI, he became a follower of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and was a principal participant...
, charge of the "dry stamp" of Henry's signature, and attended Henry on his deathbed. He also served as Groom of the Stool
Groom of the Stool
The Groom of the Stool was the most intimate of a monarch's courtiers, whose physical intimacy naturally led to him becoming a man in whom much confidence was placed by his royal master, and with whom many royal secrets were shared as a matter of course...
. He was a member of the reformist
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
circle that offset the conservative religious influence of Gardiner. He was a wealthy man, having acquired manors and former religious sites through the Court of augmentations
Court of Augmentations
The Court of Augmentations was established during the reign of King Henry VIII of England along with three lesser courts following the dissolution of the monasteries. Its primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the kingdom...
. By 1548 he was keeper of Westminster Palace.
Anthony Denny was the son of Sir Edmund Denny, chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was educated at St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. In 1547 he was elected knight of the shire (MP) for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Hertfordshire was a county constituency covering the county of Hertfordshire in England. It returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
.
Along with the Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
, John Dudley, Viscount Lisle
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death...
and Sir William Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget of Beaudesert , was an English statesman and accountant who held prominent positions in the service of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.-Early life:...
, Denny helped to finalise Henry VIII's will upon his deathbed in 1547. Denny specifically argued to Henry on several occasions against the removal of Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...
from the will. Denny was himself the man to tell Henry of his coming death, advising the old King "to prepare for his final agony". Denny's position gave him both the power to control who saw Henry in his last years (in which he spent excessive time in the Privy Chambers), and influence through his personal relationship with the ageing King. Along with Sir William Paget, the Principal Secretary
Secretary of State (England)
In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary....
, Denny is suspected of having fixed the choosing of the "Progressive" appeals, headed by Edward Seymour.
In 1525, Anthony married Joan Champernowne
Joan Champernowne
Joan Champernowne was a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII of England. She became a close friend to his sixth wife, Catherine Parr and married Sir Anthony Denny, who at the end of Henry's reign was widely considered to be his most trusted servant.- Biography :Joan was born in Modbury,...
, sister to Katherine Ashley, the governess of the future Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. They had 12 children. A son was Sir Edward Denny, Knight Banneret of Bishops Stortford
Sir Edward Denny, Knight Banneret of Bishops Stortford
Sir Edward Denny , Knight Banneret of Bishop's Stortford, was a soldier, privateer and adventurer in the reign of Elizabeth I.-Early life:...
1547-1599, cousin to Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
.