Thomas Alleyn (died 27 March 1631) was a prominent seventeenth century London citizen and the first Master of the

College of God's Gift The College of God's Gift, often referred to as the Old (Dulwich) College, was a historic charity founded in 1619 by the Elizabethan actor and businessman Edward Alleyn who endowed it with the ancient Manor of Dulwich in south London. In 1857 it ...

Early life

He was born the cousin of

Edward Alleyn Edward "Ned" Alleyn (; 1 September 156621 November 1626) was an English actor who was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre and founder of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich. Early life Alleyn was born on 1 September 1566 in Bishopsga ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. He married and had one son and two daughters.Ormiston, T. L., (1926), ''Dulwich College Register'',page 9, (J J Keliher & Co Ltd: London)

Career

Prior to his appointment, Thomas Alleyn had become a citizen of London and was a

barber-surgeon The barber surgeon, one of the most common European medical practitioners of the Middle Ages, was generally charged with caring for soldiers during and after battle. In this era, surgery was seldom conducted by physicians, but instead by barber ...

of London. When

laid out the Deed of Foundation of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich, which was soon colloquially referred to as "Dulwich College", he stipulated that the Master and Warden should always be unmarried and of Alleyn's blood, and surname, and if the former was impossible then at least of Alleyn’s surname.Hodges, S, (1981), ''God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College'', page 8, (Heinemann: London) Thomas met the criteria of being of Edward Alleyn's blood and surname, although he was married. Edward Alleyn named him in the Deed of Foundation although such was Edward Alleyn's continued involvement in his charitable concern that Thomas did not assume office until Edward Alleyn's death in 1626. He died on 27 March 1631 and was succeeded in the post by his cousin

Matthias Alleyn Matthias Alleyn (died 9 April 1642) was a 17th-century London gentleman and the second Master of the College of God's Gift. Early life He was born the cousin of Edward Alleyn in London. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1627. With his second wife ...

who had served as Warden in the period that Thomas had been Master.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alleyn, Thomas 1631 deaths Year of birth missing Masters of the College of God's Gift