WEDDINGTON CASTLE - An Online History
KEY PEOPLE: Thomas Grey, 1st Marquis
of Dorset (1451 - 1501)
Thomas Grey, 1st Marquis of Dorset, was the eldest son of Elizabeth Woodville
(pictured below) and consequently a
stepson of Edward IV of England.
Thomas was Elizabeth's son by her first marriage, to Sir John Grey. He was
created Marquis of Dorset on April 18, 1475 and summoned to Parliament on
November 15, 1482. In January 1482-3 on the death of his grandmother Elizabeth,
he became Lord Ferrers of Groby. He appears to have had some illustrious moments
in his military career, including commanding the forces assisting the Emperor
Maximilian against the French, and he was a Knight of the Garter. Less successfully, he joined the Duke of Buckingham's 1483
rebellion against Richard III. When the rebellion failed he fled to Brittany to
join Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII. He inherited Weddington in 1491 from
Reginald, Lord Grey.
Thomas first married Anne of York, dowager Duchess of Exeter and sister of
Edward IV. After she died without children he married Cecily Bonville, Baroness
Harington and Bonville. By the latter marriage Lady Jane Grey was his
great-grand-daughter. Upon his death he was buried at Astley, Warwick.
He is further enshrined in history through being depicted in William Shakespeare's play Richard III.
