Life
Sir Henry was probably born in London, supposedly the son of Anthony Marten and his wife Anne Jacob, daughter of John Jacob of Bishops Stortford. His father was a merchant of London, originally from Wokingham, Berkshire. He was educated at Winchester School and matriculated at New College, Oxford on 24 November 1581, aged 19. He became a fellow of the college in 1582 and studied civil and canon law. He graduated BCL in 1587 and DCL in 1592, and was admitted a member of the College of Advocates on 16 October 1596. He developed a large practice as a barrister in the admiralty, prerogative, and high commission courts, and was appointed official of the archdeaconry of Berkshire.
He was elected MP for Wilton in 1586/7 and for Wootton Basset in 1604 (serving until 1611).
Marten was made King's advocate on 3 March 1609 and in March 1613 was sent abroad in connection with the marriage settlement of the Lady Elizabeth. In 1616, he was made chancellor of the diocese of London. He was knighted at Theobalds on 21 December 1616. and in 1617 became a judge of the admiralty court. Later he was appointed a member of the court of high commission and dean of the arches. Marten started investing in land in Berkshire buying firstly property at West Challow in the Vale of the White Horse, secondly Longworth House at Longworth which he bought for £9,500 in 1618, and thirdly Hinton Waldrist Manor.
In 1625 Marten was elected Member of Parliament for St Germans and supported Sir John Eliot in attacking the Duke of Buckingham. His tone was described as studiously moderate. While parliament was prorogued in 1626, he was involved in the committal of Sir Robert Howard by the high commission, and when he was re-elected MP for St Germans in 1626, an attempt was made to exclude him because of the case. He pleaded ignorance of the distinction between prorogation and dissolution and was allowed to take his seat. In 1628 he was elected MP for Oxford University, taking part in the debates on the Petition of Right and sitting until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.
In April 1640, Marten was elected MP for St Ives in the Short Parliament. He did not stand for the Long Parliament which fined him £250 for his part in the case of Sir Robert Howard.
Marten died in 1641 and was buried at Longworth Church. He had married Elizabeth Weld and had two sons and three daughters. He was father of the regicide, Henry Marten.
Read more about this topic: Henry Marten (politician)
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