Robert Sheffield

Sir Robert Sheffield (before 1462 – 10 August 1518) was an English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He was Speaker of the House of Commons between 1512–1513.

Early life Robert Sheffield was born before 1462 in Butterwick, Lincolnshire to Sir Robert Sheffield (1432 – 18 August 1502) of South Cave, Yorkshire and Jane Lounde, the daughter and coheir of Alexander Lownde of Butterwick, Lincolnshire.

Sheffield was educated in law at Inner Temple.

Sheffield held several governmental positions and commissions in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and London, including commissioner of sewers in Lincolnshire from 1485 until his death, commissioner of oyer and terminer in London in 1495 and 1503, commissioner for benevolence in 1500, commissioner for subsidy in Lincolnshire in 1504, 1512, 1514 and 1515, and in London in 1504.

By 1516, Sheffield served as Custos rotulorum (keeper of the rolls) for Lincolnshire (Lindsey).

Robert Sheffield ( – 1532), married Jane Stanley, daughter of George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange, and sister of Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby, and father of Edmund Sheffield, 1st Baron Sheffield Jane Sheffield ( – 1528) Edward Sheffield (born 1485) Margaret Sheffield (born ) Anne Sheffield (born 1489) Elizabeth Sheffield (born 1489) Bridget Sheffield (born 1494)

After his first wife's death in or after 1509, Sheffield married secondly Anne Barley or Barlee (d. 1557 or 1558), the daughter of William Barley, of Albury, Hertfordshire. After Sheffield's death in 1518 his widow married secondly Sir John Grey of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, a younger son of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset by his second wife, Cecily Bonville, and thirdly Sir Richard Clement, of Ightham Mote, Kent. Anne (née Barlee) left a will dated 1 October 1557, proved 7 May 1558.

Death In 1515, Sheffield helped Cardinal Wolsey in drafting legislation but later gave lead to anti-clerical forces in the House, earning him the Cardinal's enmity. In 1516, he was charged with negligence as a justice of the peace and was summoned before the Star Chamber but negotiated a pardon. Six months later he was incarcerated in the Tower of London after complaining against Cardinal Wolsey, and brought before the Star Chamber again, and this time asked the King for mercy. However the pardon was revoked and Sheffield died in the Tower of London on 10 August 1518.

Sheffield was buried in the Augustinian church (Blackfriars), London. His will is in Testamenta Vetusta by Nicholas Harris Nicolas (p. 555).