William Whorwood

Sir William Whorwood (c.1500 – 28 May 1545) was a landowner in Staffordshire and the neighbouring counties, a distinguished lawyer, and a politician in the reign of Henry VIII. He achieved the positions of Solicitor General and Attorney General.

Whorwood was born before 1505: his elder brother John was aged 40 in 1534, and taking account also of the dates of his education, it can be assumed that William was born 1500–1502.

He was the second or third son of John Whorwood of Compton, near Kinver one of a family of minor gentry, who had long lived at Compton, in Kinver, Staffordshire. The family name is also rendered Horwood, giving an indication of contemporary pronunciation. His mother was Elizabeth Corbyn, daughter of Richard Corbyn of Kingswinford, Staffordshire.

Whorwood was admitted to the Middle Temple for legal training on 2 November 1519. Within two years he was acting as receiver of monies for the serjeants-at-law, the elite group of lawyers who monopolised work in the central courts. He quickly built up a successful practice, working for eminent clients. He handled the funeral accounts of Sir Thomas Lovell in 1524 and three years later was advising Anne Rede, niece of William Warham, the Archbishop of Canterbury on her jointure. In 1526 he was nominated for the post of Common Serjeant of London, the capital city's senior legal officer, by the mayor and aldermen of London, although he was unsuccessful in the face of competition from a royal nominee.

In Whorwood was returned as Member of the English Parliament for the borough of Downton in Wiltshire This was one of three boroughs controlled by the Diocese of Winchester. The bishop's bailiff simply filled in the election return or inemnity and handed it to the High Sheriff of Wiltshire. The bishop in commendam at the time was Thomas Wolsey, formerly the king's senior counsellor, but his career had entered its final crisis. It is possible Warham influenced the returns. Five of the six seats controlled by Winchester were taken by senior legal figures, including Whorwood's colleague at Downton, Nicholas Hare and Thomas Cromwell at Taunton.

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