Spouse(s) Constance Green Mother Anne Neville | Name John 1st Died May 8, 1473 | |
 | ||
Parents Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham Children Edward Stafford, 2nd Earl of Wiltshire Cousins Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter, William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier, John Bourchier, 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby Grandparents Anne of Gloucester, Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford Similar People Albert - Prince Consort, William IV of the United Ki, Mary of Teck, Henry Holland - 3rd Duke | ||
John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire , (24 November 1427 – 8 May 1473) was an English nobleman, the youngest son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham. In 1461 he was made a Knight of the Bath.
Contents
Career
He fought on the Yorkist side at the Battle of Hexham in 1464. In 1469 he was made Steward of the Duchy of Cornwall for life. He was made Earl of Wiltshire on 5 January 1470 by King Edward IV, and was briefly arrested under Warwick's government and prevented from attending the Parliament of November 1470 (he was one of six Yorkist nobles not to receive a summons). In return for his loyalty he was made Chief Butler of England, and was empowered, with Lord Mountjoy to pardon rebels who surrendered by 7 June that year. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1472.
Diplomacy
Not much is known, but he did act for some time as a diplomat, working with the Earl of Northumberland to deal with ambassadors of James III of Scotland about national grievances
Personal life
He married Constance Green, daughter of Sir Henry Green of Drayton House Northamptonshire and Margaret de Ros. They only had one child, Edward, who succeeded him as Earl of Wiltshire, although during the latter's minority he was kept as a ward of the King, meaning revenues from his estates were paid to the Crown.