William Drury

Sir William Drury (8 March 1550 – 1589) was an English landowner and member of parliament. He was the father of Sir Robert Drury, patron of the poet John Donne. Family William Drury, born 8 March 1550, was the eldest son of Robert Drury (d. 7 December 1557), esquire, and Audrey Rich, the daughter of Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, Lord Chancellor of England. He had three brothers and eight sisters: Henry Drury, who died without issue. Thomas Drury (born 8 May 1551). Robert Drury, who died an infant. Anne Drury, who married John Thornton of Soham, Cambridgeshire. Mary Drury (born 14 February 1546), who married Robert Russell of West Rudham, Norfolk. Elizabeth Drury (born 8 February 1547), who married firstly, Thomas Grey of Merton, Norfolk, and secondly, Nicholas Mynne of Walsingham, Norfolk. Susan Drury (born 4 April 1549), who married Robert Baspole. Winifred Drury (born 27 August 1552), who married Edmund Markhant or Marchant or Markham of Colchester, Essex. Bridget Drury, who married Richard Zouche of Pitton, Wiltshire. Dorothy Drury, who married, on 26 August 1577, Edward Barnes of Soham, Cambridgeshire. Audrey or Etheldred Drury, who married 28 December 1587, George Parker. Career Drury was educated at Groton school and Caius College, Cambridge. He probably entered Lincoln's Inn in 1569. He succeeded his father, Robert, in 1557 and his grandfather, Sir William Drury, in 1558, inheriting considerable land in Suffolk, including Hawstead Place, where in 1578 he entertained Queen Elizabeth I. He was knighted around the same time.