Thomas Darcy, 1st Earl Rivers


Thomas Darcy, 1st Earl Rivers was an English peer and courtier.
He was the son of John Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche and Frances Rich. His grandfather was Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche, a supporter of Lady Jane Grey. He succeeded to his father's title as 3rd Baron Darcy of Chiche in March 1581. In 1613, he obtained a new grant of the Barony of Darcy of Chiche with a special remainder, on the failure of his male issue, to his son-in-law, Sir Thomas Savage, and his heirs. He attended the courts of Elizabeth I and James I, and was created Viscount Colchester in the Peerage of England on 5 July 1621. During the reign of Charles I, Darcy was further honoured when he was made Earl Rivers on 4 November 1626. Both of these titles were created with the special remainder to Sir Thomas Savage and his heirs.
Earl Rivers married Mary Kitson, a granddaughter of Sir Thomas Kitson. Together they had six children:
He died on 25 February 1640 at Winchester House, near Broad Street, London and was succeeded in his titles, except for the original barony of Darcy of Chiche of 1581, by his grandson, John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers.
An inventory was made of the goods of Mary Countess-Dowager Rivers on 28 June 1644. The furnishings are listed in the rooms of an un-named house, not St Osyth's Priory.