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Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (c. 1485 - July 28, 1540) was an English statesman, one of the most important political figures of the reign of Henry VIII of England.

Cromwell was born in about 1485 in Putney, the son of Walter Cromwell (c. 1463 - 1510), a tradesman. After studying law, he entered the service of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and became a Member of Parliament in 1523. Following the crisis over Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, Cromwell came to prominence at Wolsey's expense. By 1533, he had risen to the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was he who suggested to Henry VIII that the king make himself head of the English Church, and saw the Act of SupremacyFirst Act of Supremacy 1534 The Act of Supremacy ( 1534) was the declaration by an Act of Parliament under King Henry VIII of England that he was 'the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England' and that the English crown shall enjoy "all honours of 1534Events May 10 Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. June 9 Jacques Cartier is the first European to discover the St. Lawrence River. July 7 First known exchange between Europeans and natives of the Gulf of St. through ParliamentAlternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). A parliament is a legislative body, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system derived from that of the United Kingdom.. As Henry's Vicar General, he presided over the Dissolution of the MonasteriesThe Dissolution of the Monasteries (sometimes called the Suppression of the Monasteries was the formal process, taking place between 1536 and 1540, by which King Henry VIII confiscated the property of the Roman Catholic institutions in England for himself, which began with his visitation of the monasteries and abbeys, announced in 1535 and begun in the winter of 1536. As a reward, he was created Earl of Essex in 1540.

Cromwell had supported Henry in disposing of Anne BoleynHans Holbein the Younger. Legend has it that this image is the basis for the queens in a deck of cards, but the actual inspiration was Anne's mother-in-law Elizabeth of York Anne Boleyn, Marchioness of Pembroke (about 1507 May 19, 1536) was the second wif and replacing her with Jane SeymourAnne Boleyn. Queen Jane, Jane Seymour (c. 1509 — October 24, 1537) was the third wife of King Henry VIII of England. She gave him his only male heir, later Edward VI, but died shortly after his birth. Biography Jane was born in about 1509, the daughter of. His downfall was the haste with which he encouraged the king to re-marry following Jane's premature death. The marriage to Anne of Cleves, a political alliance which Cromwell had urged on Henry, was a disaster, and this was the real motive for Cromwell to be charged with treason. He was executed at the Tower of London on July 28, 1540.

The inscription on the paper lying on the table in the original portrait describes Cromwell as "Master of the Jewell House," an official position that he occupied for just one year from April 12, 1532, thus neatly dating the portrait (illustration, upper right).

The Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell ( 1599 - 1658), was descended from his sister Catherine Cromwell.