Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent

Edmund Grey was an English aristocrat who combined politics, military activity and lucrative fee-earning activities to improve his social status and wealth.

He was the eldest son of Sir John Grey, by Constance, daughter of John Holland, duke of Exeter, and grandson of Reginald, third lord Grey of Ruthin. Before he was 20 he served in Aquitaine and was knighted on 9 October 1440, having succeeded his grandfather as fourth Lord Grey of Ruthin on 30 September. During the Wars of the Roses Grey at first sided with the king Henry IV (r. 1422-1461, 1470-1471) but at the battle of Northampton on 10 July 1460, where he led the vanguard of the royal army, he went over to Warwick, and so decided the day in favor of the Yorkists.

For his support of the Yorkists he was rewarded with a grant of the manor of Ampthill and on 24 June 1463 he was made treasurer of England and a privy councilor. Other rewards followed: he was created Earl of Kent on 30 May 1465; he was created chief justice of the county of Merioneth on 28 August 1465; he was a commissioner of array in Kent in 1470, and in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire in 1471; He was appointed a commissioner of oyer and terminer in London and the adjoining counties in 1483.

When Edmund Gray died he was worth £20,000. This was 0.55% of net national income of £3.6m. It would be worth £6.1bn in 2010.