Robert Southwell (sheriff)

Sir Robert Southwell (born c.1506 in Windham Manor, Norfolk – died 1559 in Mereworth) was an English civil servant during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. He was elected Member of Parliament from Kent in October 1553 and in 1555. In January–February 1554 Southwell, then the High Sheriff of Kent, was one of the key loyalist officers engaged against the Wyatt's rebellion. According to D. M. Loades, "Sir Robert Southwell and Lord Abergavenny were almost the only significant gentlemen in the country whose loyalty was never in doubt. So resolute was Southwell's opposition to Wyatt that it is tempting to regard them as personal enemies, but .. there is no evidence for this."

Robert Southwell belonged to a wealthy family from Norfolk. He was the son of Francis Southwell and the younger brother of Privy councillor Sir Richard Southwell. On 1 May 1536 he married Margaret Neville (d. 25 December 1575), the daughter of Sir Thomas Neville, MP from Kent, fifth son of George Neville, 2nd Baron Bergavenny Through the marriage he acquired Mereworth, which became his principal residence and where he was buried. Southwell was Catholic.

He settled on a career in law, served at the Court of Augmentations, and made a fortune through speculation in former monastery lands. In 1543 he was granted the manor of Hoxne in Suffolk, which was later inherited by his son, Thomas. He temporarily controlled estates at Leveland,Ditton,West Peckham and Swanton Hall near Mereworth. D. M. Loades noted that "there was nothing to choose between Southwell and Wyatt", his future enemy, when it came to monastic lands. Southwell supported his brother Richard in his rivalry with the Howards; after their fall Southwell was rewarded with lands in Badlesmere, Kent.

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