Henry Grey, 1st Lord Grey of Groby (1547 – 26 July 1614) was an English landowner, soldier, courtier, magistrate, county administrator, and member of parliament.
Among many other roles, he was a member of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms and Master of the Buckhounds.
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Early life
Grey was the only surviving son of John Grey, son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, and Mary Browne, daughter of Anthony Browne and his first wife, Alice Gage. It is believed he was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where a Henry Grey graduated first with a Bachelor of Arts on 1 February 1565, followed by a Master of Arts on 18 June 1568. He was knighted on 11 November 1587.
Career
Grey's main ambition was to re-establish his family's position in Leicestershire lost by his father's attainder. Henry succeeded to his father's estate at Pirgo near Havering, Essex at age 17. Five years later, he was appointed one of the Queen's Gentlemen Pensioners and was lieutenant of the band – head personal bodyguard – from 1589 to 1603. He attended Queen Elizabeth I six months of each year. Otherwise based 20 miles away at Pirgo in Essex he filled many local and county duties, was appointed deputy lieutenant of the county from 1586 to 1590 and was elected knight of the shire (MP) for the county of Essex in 1589. He was made Master of the Buckhounds in 1596.