Thomas Harrington

Sir Thomas Harrington of Hornby (died 1460) was a 15th-century English northern knight. He was originally a loyal servant of the Lancastrian crown, but gave his loyalty to Richard of York in the early years of the Wars of the Roses, and died in battle in his service.

Early years and service to the Crown Hornby Castle, Lancashire, the Harrington family's caput, seen in 2005. Thomas was the son of Sir William Harrington (died 1440). In 1419 Thomas married Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas, Lord Dacre. Thomas Harrington accompanied Henry VI for his French coronation in 1436, and would return to France six years later, also in the king's service, to fight in Gascony. Released the following year, in July 1450 Harrington led a force out of Lancashire to assist the king against Jack Cade's rebellion.

Polarization of politics Rosemary Horrox has suggested that it was probably activity in these duchy offices that 'helped to draw Thomas into the orbit of the Nevilles.'

Final years and the Wars of the Roses

In November 1458, Pollard says- quoting a contemporary chronicler- Harrington "was sente for to come to Myddleham to Erle of Sarisburie [to] take ful partie with ye ful noble prince the duke of Yorke." John Watts has described this kind of 'calculation' as intending to preserve his estate, 'regardless of how the impending crisis was solved.' A year later, in acknowledgment of the approaching strife, and the necessity to protect his estates, enfeoffed land to a group of Lancastrian gentry, among whom were the earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Clifford.