Richard Empson Timeline 1450-1510

Richard Empson was born to Peter Empson and Elizabeth nee Joseph at Towcester.

Richard married Jane Hill.

A son, John was born to Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

A son, Thomas was born to Richard Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

A daughter, Mary was born to Richard Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Empson trained as a lawyer at Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Court.

A daughter, Anne was born to Richard Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Richard Empson was appointed Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lancaster.

A daughter, Jane was born to Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, took the throne as King Richard III. Empson lost his position as Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lancaster.

Battle of Bosworth Field
Henry Tudor defeated Richard III and was proclaimed King Henry VII.

Richard Empson regained his position as Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lancaster.

A daughter, Elizabeth was born to Empson and Jane nee Hill at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Empson was chosen to be Speaker of the House of Commons.

Empson became a member of the King’s council.

Reginald Bray, who had served as Treasurer, died. Bray had sought to improve the King’s finances by changing the way that taxes were collected.

Empson was Chairman of the Council Learned in Law. Edmund Dudley was also a member of this council which heard cases that King Henry VII wished to pursue. It is recorded that Empson and Dudley frequently accepted pay-offs, some involving large sums of money, that helped to fill the royal treasury. They also extracted large payments for ‘the king’s favour’. Both men were extremely unpopular with the nobility.

Empson was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and knighted.

King Henry VII died. He was succeeded by his son Henry who became King Henry VIII.

Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley were charged with treason for plotting to take control of the throne when the King died. They were imprisoned in the Tower of London. The new king, Henry VIII, wanted to show the people that his rule would be unlike that of his father and the removal of two hated ministers reinforced that view.

Empson and Dudley were found guilty of treason. No date was set for their execution and they remained imprisoned in the Tower.

King Henry VIII signed the death warrant for Dudley and Empson.

Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley were executed on Tower Hill by beheading.