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Salusbury family

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The Salusbury family is a Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy.

Rise to prominence

The prominence of the Salusbury family began after they arrived as vassals of William the Conqueror in 1066. They were first given grants of land from the crown in Shropshire, which were initially small, but dramatically expanded after the family assisted in the Conquest of Wales under Edward I. The family was first officially recognized by the crown during the reign of Henry VII after Thomas Salusbury put down a rebellion in Cornwall.

Establishment at Court

After the establishment of Henry VIII as the new Kings of England, the Crown began to favour Welshmen for positions at court allowing for the creation of Salusbury Road in Queen's Park. After the Reformation, the senior branch of the family converted to the Church of England, while the cadet branch remained Roman Catholic. A member of the cadet branch, Thomas Salusbury was executed for his involvement in the Babington Plot in 1586 after which time the parent branch of the family continued to use the original spelling, while the Roman Catholic cadet branch, which supported the overthrow of Elizabeth, began to spell their name as "Salisbury".

During the reign of Elizabeth I, the family developed a passion for supporting the arts. During this time Lleweni Hall, the family's seat, expanded exponentially after Sir John Salusbury was appointed the Custos Rotulorum of Denbighshire. Sir John, who was knighted in 1601, also had the distinction of being the dedicatee of Shakespeare's The Phoenix and the Turtle after Salusbury became his patron.

Fighting as a Royalist during the English Civil War, Henry Salusbury, the second son of Sir Thomas Salusbury, received a baronetcy on 10 November, 1619 during the reign of Charles II for his father's contributions to the Crown. After the Restoration, the fortunes of the family began to decline and the last baronet, Sir John Salusbury went on a long and ultimately failed expedition of Nova Scotia. He had one daughter, Hester Piozzi, and the baronetcy was therefore rendered extinct.

Post-Georgian era

In 1648, after the death of Sir John Salusbury, the family had a lack of male heirs. The Salusbury family was revived after Hester Piozzi adopted John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury, the nephew of her Milanese husband. Therefore, the ancient and modern Salusbury family have no direct blood connection. Around this time, the seat of the Salusbury family moved from Lleweni Hall to Brynbella, further exaggerating this change. John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury is the progenitor of the modern Salusbury family, and all people who possess the right to bear the Salusbury arms are descended from him. As Salusbury had several cousins, however, many passed on their name without the rights and privileges restored to him via the Crown.

Prominent Salusburys

By marriage:

See also

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