Thomas Crouch (1607 – August 1679) was an English academic and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

from 1660 to 1679. Crouch was the son of Thomas Crouch of Letchworth, Hertfordshire and was baptised in St Bartholomew's Church Layston on 18 October 1607.Layston Church
/ref> He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

and was admitted as a scholar to

King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the city ...

on 26 June 1626. He was awarded BA in 1630 and MA in 1633. He was a Fellow of King's College from 1629 to 1650, when he was ejected. In 1643, he was proctor, and held the post again from 1649 to 1650. He migrated to

Trinity Hall, Cambridge Trinity Hall (formally The College or Hall of the Holy Trinity in the University of Cambridge) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is the fifth-oldest surviving college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by ...

where he resided as Fellow. In 1660, Crouch was elected

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in the Convention Parliament. he was re-elected in 1661 for the

Cavalier Parliament The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, and longer than any Great British or UK Parliament to date, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter-century reign of C ...

and sat until 1679. History of Parliament Online - Crouch, Thomas
/ref> Crouch died at the age of 71 and was buried on 30 August 1679 in

King's College Chapel King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was bui ...

where there is a monument. This reads in Latin

Aperiet Deus tumulos ; et educet
Nos de sepulchris.
Qualis eram, dies isthaec cum
Venerit, scies.

(God will open up the graves, and lead us from our sepulchres. What manner of man I was, you will know, when that day comes)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crouch, Thomas 1607 births 1679 deaths Members of the pre-1707 Parliament of England for the University of Cambridge Alumni of King's College, Cambridge People educated at Eton College Fellows of Trinity Hall, Cambridge Fellows of King's College, Cambridge English MPs 1661–1679 English MPs 1660