Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich

Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, was an English lawyer, statesman, and nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of King Edward VI from 1547 to 1551. He amassed considerable wealth and influence through his involvement in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, acquiring extensive lands and properties formerly owned by the Roman Catholic Church in England. He also played a prominent role in the prosecution of individuals perceived as threats to the crown’s authority, including the Catholic figures Thomas More and John Fisher, as well as the Protestant martyr Anne Askew. In 1564, he founded Felsted School in Essex along with its associated almshouses, leaving a lasting legacy in education and charitable institutions.