Richard Southwell

Sir Richard Southwell PC (c.1502/03 – 11 January 1564) was an English Privy Councillor.

Biography Southwell was born at Windham Manor in Norfolk, in 1502 or 1503. His parents were Francis Southwell, an auditor of the exchequer, and Dorothy Tendring, daughter of William Tendring. He was the eldest brother of Robert Southwell, Francis Southwell, and Anthony Southwell. ) Richard's father died in 1512, and he inherited the estate. In 1514, his uncle Robert Southwell died, and the younger Southwell inherited that estate also. and William Wootton. In 1519, Thomas Wyndham acquired the wardship.

From 1534 to 1535, Southwell was High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. In 1536, his portrait was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. He was a witness in the trial of Thomas More, where he claimed not to have heard the details of the damning conversation between Richard Rich and the accused. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1539 as knight of the shire for Norfolk and knighted in 1540.

Southwell was a principal accuser of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who was arrested in December 1546 on charges (very likely trumped up) of threatening the succession of Prince Edward by displaying the lions of England in his personal coat of arms. Following the arrest of Surrey's father, Thomas Howard, third duke of Norfolk, Southwell was one of three royal commissioners (along with John Gates and Wymond Carew) sent to seize and inventory the Howards' possessions. He was one of the assistants to the executors of the will of Henry VIII.

Southwell was Master of the Armoury from 1554 to 1559.

Southwell died on 11 January 1564.