Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mordaunt, John (1490?-1562)
MORDAUNT, JOHN, first Lord Mordaunt of Turvey (1490?–1562), born about 1490, was son of Sir John Mordaunt (d. 1504) [q. v.] He became a courtier of Henry VIII, was sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1509, was knighted in 1520, and attended the meeting of Henry and Charles V at Gravelines, and the Field of the Cloth of Gold in the same year; in 1522 he met Charles again at Canterbury. In 1526 he became a privy councillor, received the office of general surveyor of the king's woods, and was a commissioner to report on some of the king's manors. In 1530 he helped to conduct the inquiry into the extent of Wolsey's property.
Mordaunt supported the reformation and watched for a chance of enriching himself; he was a personal friend of Cromwell. On 4 May 1532 he was made Baron Mordaunt of Turvey, and twelve days later was present when the submission of the clergy was made to the king. He went to Calais the same year with the king with twelve men in his train. On 31 May 1533 he received Anne Boleyn at the Tower when she came to be crowned. In 1534 he was one of the peers engaged in the trial of Lord Dacre. In conjunction with his son John, a strong catholic, he attempted to secure for himself the priory of Harwolde, by making the prioress sign a deed of the nature of which she was ignorant; but this scheme was duly reported by the watchful Richard Layton [q. v.] in 1535. In May 1536 he took part in Anne Boleyn's trial; he went against the northern rebels and assisted to bring them to justice. In 1537 he carried the banner at Jane Seymour's funeral. Henry wished to get Drayton Manor, Northamptonshire, from him, but died before the matter could be arranged. Mordaunt, now old, acquiesced in the changes under Edward VI, but took no part in them, supported the government under Mary, and died in 1562. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Vere of Addington Magna, Northamptonshire, and by her left three sons and several daughters, one of whom, Etheldred, became a nun of Barking. His eldest son, Sir John Mordaunt, was knighted 31 May 1533 at the coronation of Anne Boleyn. He was one of the first who declared for Queen Mary, was of her privy council (Acts Privy Council, 1552-4, passim), and died in 1570, having married Ela, daughter of Richard Fitzlewis of Thornton, Essex. His great-grandson was John, first earl of Peterborough [see under Mordaunt, Henry, third Earl].
[Letters and Papers Henry VIII, ed. Brewer and Gairdner, passim; Collins's Peerage, ed. Brydges, iii. 314 sqq.; Visitations of Bedfordshire (Harl. Soc.), pp. 42, 125; Acts of the Privy Council, 1550-4; Reilly's Historical Anecdotes of the Families of the Boleynes, Careys, &c., pp. 45 sq.; Halstead's Succinct Genealogies, pp. 525 sq.; Strype's Annals, i. ii. 230, Memorials, ii. i. 494, ii. 206, iii. ii. 160 sq.]