Charles le Grosse


Sir Charles Le Grosse was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1653.
Le Grosse was the son of Sir Thomas Le Gros of Crostwight Hall near North Walsham, Norfolk and was knighted on 6 December 1616. He was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1626–27.
In 1628, Le Grosse was elected Member of Parliament for Orford and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In April 1640, Le Grosse was re-elected MP for Orford in the Short Parliament and re-elected MP for Orford for the Long Parliament in November 1640, retaining his seat until 1653.
He acquired by marriage a moiety of the manor of Eccles, which allowed him to hold court there. In 1637 he and Dr. Thomas Lushington were instrumental in persuading the physician and philosopher Thomas Browne, to re-locate to Norwich. In 1658 Browne dedicated his Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial to Le Grosse's eldest son, Thomas.
Le Grosse died before 31 May 1660. He had married Muriel, the daughter of Sir Thomas Knyvet and his wife Elizabeth and had 2 sons and 6 daughters.
The poet Ralph Knevet had dedicated the following poem to him.