Sir Thomas Gawdy SL (died 5 November 1588) was an English justice and Member of Parliament. He was a member of the Norfolk family of Gawdy (or Gaudy), of whom many were lawyers during the 16th and 17th centuries. He was Recorder of Norwich for 16 years. His seat was at Gawdy Hall, Harleston, a grand mansion which, in its final state, was demolished in 1939.
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Career
Family and name
He was the second of three sons of Thomas Gawdy, all by different wives and all baptised Thomas. (The younger half-brother changed his name to Francis Gawdy, at his confirmation). The mother of this Thomas was Anne Bennett. All three brothers were lawyers. His elder half-brother Thomas Gawdy was created a Serjeant-at-law in 1552 before dying in 1556, whereas his younger brother, Francis, served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from August 1605 until December of that year.
Legal profession
A member of the Inner Temple, Thomas was called to the bar in 1550, appointed a reader of his Inn in 1560 and treasurer in 1562. He was issued a writ to be called as a Serjeant-at-law in October 1558, but it lapsed on the death of Mary I. He was excluded from the list of Elizabeth I, possibly on his own request, but was renominated in 1567. In 1574 he was made a justice of the Court of King's Bench and in 1578 he was knighted.