Richard Corbet (died 1566)

Richard Corbet (by 1512-1566) was an English landowner and politician who represented Shropshire in the parliaments of 1558 and 1563.

Richard Corbet was the second son of

Richard had two brothers. The elder and the heir to Sir Robert's estates was Roger Corbet (c.1501-1538), MP for Borough of Truro in the English Reformation Parliament of 1529-36 The younger, Reginald Corbet, was a distinguished lawyer, Serjeant-at-law and Justice of the King's Bench, who represented Much Wenlock in 1542 and Shrewsbury in the parliaments of 1545, October 1553 and 1555. Richard also had four sisters who survived their parents: Jane, Joan or Anne, Mary and Dorothy. All married into the local landed gentry.

Sir Robert died on 11 April 1513. His will made generous provision for his daughters, guaranteeing them their keep and 100 marks each their marriages, while Roger was to inherit all his estates and half of his cattle and household goods, together with "my best salt with the covering, my best piece of silver with the covering, my best goblet and half my spoons." However, nothing specific was left for Richard and Reginald, who were perforce to make their careers elsewhere.

Richard Corbet's career progressed through the dual avenues of the Court and marriage. Initially he became a member of the Royal Household of Henry VIII. Although he is not recorded as occupying a senior position, his contacts at court were probably the key to acquiring a number of grants. The first was small: in 1538 the lease of the rectory of Stone, Staffordshire from the Court of Augmentations. However, hen came the wardship of Andrew Corbet, his young nephew, after the death of Roger Corbet in 1538, a move which greatly enhanced his position in family and within the wider society. The grant was confirmed in July 1539.

...
Wikipedia