Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford

Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford (18 September 1501 – 30 April 1563) was born in Penshurst, Kent, eldest son of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Buckingham. Eleanor (or Alianore) was the daughter of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland and Maud Herbert, Countess of Northumberland. After his father's execution he managed to regain some of his family's position and he was created Baron Stafford in 1547.

Stafford was born in Penshurst, Kent, England. He was one of four children, the only son. One of the main family residences was Thornbury, which had been in the family since 1087.

On 16 February 1519, Henry married Ursula Pole, the daughter of Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury and Sir Richard Pole. The marriage had been arranged by the Duke of Buckingham, at the suggestion of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

Ursula's dowry was 3,000 marks, which would be increased by 1,000 marks "if the Countess (of Salisbury) get back certain lands from the King". The Countess settled lands in Somerset and Devon worth 700 marks on the couple and their children. In return, the Duke of Buckingham was required to set aside lands worth £500 as Ursula's jointure. He also paid for the wedding expenses, apart from Ursula's wedding clothes which were provided by her mother.

Following their marriage, Henry and Ursula made their home in the household of the Duke of Buckingham, where they had guardians to watch over them. In November 1520, their first child was born; they would have a total of seven sons and seven daughters. The Duke paid a midwife 10 shillings to attend Ursula following the birth of the child. The following year, 1521, his father, the Duke of Buckingham was beheaded for treason. He was posthumously attainted by an Act of Parliament in 1523, with his title and estates being forfeited to the Crown.