Henry Long

Who was Henry Long?

Henry Long of Wraxall was an English politician and lawyer.

Born in Wiltshire, he was the son of Robert Long and Margaret Godfrey.

In 1435 he was elected Member of Parliament for Old Sarum, and in 1442 for Devizes. He was MP for Wiltshire in 1449, 1453-4, and again 1472-5. He served on various commissions between 1450 and 1488 and was High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1456, 1475, and 1482-3.

In Shakespeare's play Richard III, the Sheriff, introduced in Act Five, Scene One, was Henry Long of Wraxall, who was Sheriff in the time of Richard III, in 1483.

Long married three times; to Joan Ernle, Margaret Newburgh and Joan Malwyn. He inherited the manor of South Wraxall from his father, but having no issue, the manor devolved on his nephew Sir Thomas Long.