| No Title | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Birth |
N/A |
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Death |
May 17, 1603 |
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Parents |
Robert Hicks (1518-57) |
|
Known Siblings |
Clement Hicks (1546-1628) |
|
Spouse |
Elizabeth Colton of Forest House (1556-1634) |
|
Known children |
Michael Hicks (?-?) |
History[]
Michael Hicks was eldest son of Robert Hicks of Bristol, Gloucestershire, at one time a London merchant. His mother was Juliana, daughter and heiress of William Arthur of Clapham, Surrey.
Michael matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1559 and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1564.
Joining the household of Sir William Cecil, the future Lord Burghley, he rose to become one of Burghley's two principal secretaries at the time he was the Queen's chief minister. Taking the same position with Sir Robert Cecil after Burghley's death, Hicks became an influential figure at court and appears to have been popular.
Hicks appeared to have possessed considerable financial abilities, and his personal friends sought his aid and counsel in their pecuniary difficulties. He lent Francis Bacon money in 1593, and between that year and 1608 Bacon sent him several appeals for further loans. Hicks proved a very friendly creditor. Bacon invariably wrote to him in amicable terms, and urged him to preserve good relations between himself and Sir Robert Cecil. To Fulke Greville, another friend, Hicks also rendered similar services. He became wealthy enough to purchase two estates, Beverstone in Gloucestershire and Ruckholt in Essex. The latter, which he acquired of a stepson about 1598, he made his chief home.
In June 1604 he was granted the site and demesne of the priory of Lenton, Nottinghamshire. On 16th of that month, Hicks entertained James I at Ruckholt, and on August 6 the king knighted him at Theobalds.
Hicks was an Member of Member of Parliament in every Parliament but one between 1584 and his death, representing Truro, Shaftesbury, Gatton, and Horsham.
On May 17, 1603, Hicks became Receiver-General for the county of Middlesex, but surrendered the post on July 12, 1604.
He died at Ruckholt August 15, 1612, and was buried in the chancel of the neighboring church he and his Lady supported regularly at St. Mary's Parish in Leyton, where an elaborate monument in alabaster, with recumbent figures of himself (in full armor) and of his widow, was erected to his memory.
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