Sir Richard Empson, minister of Henry VII, was a son of Peter Empson. Educated as a lawyer, he soon attained considerable success in his profession, and in 1491 was a Knight of the shire for Northamptonshire in Parliament, and Speaker of the House of Commons.
Sir Richard Empson (left), with Henry VII and Sir Edmund Dudley.
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor.
Henry holding a rose and wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, painted by an unknown Netherlandish artist, 1505
Pembroke Castle in South Wales, the birthplace of Henry VII
Young Henry VII, by a French artist (Musée Calvet, Avignon)
Queen Elizabeth, Henry's wife