Sir Thomas Bromley, born circa 1585, was the eldest son of Sir Henry Bromley of Shrawardine Castle and Elizabeth Pelham. He began his education at Queen's College, Oxford, in 1600 at the age of 15, and was knighted in 1603, inheriting his father's estate in 1615. He was married twice: first to Anne Walsh, with whom he had two sons and two daughters, and later to Katherine Copinger in 1635. He was interred on September 10, 1641.
Bromley's political career likely benefited from his family's established influence in Worcestershire. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1614, a position his father had held twice, and his aunt's late husband three times. In the "Addled Parliament" of 1614, Bromley was an active participant. He notably delivered a significant speech on May 2nd, advocating for an end to discussions about "undertaking," and on May 25th, he passionately defended the honour of the nobility and his country during a debate concerning Bishop Neile, proposing a complaint to the Lords. He also introduced a bill related to blacksmiths and nail makers.
Despite his public role, Bromley struggled significantly with financial mismanagement. His extravagance compounded existing debts from his father's time. He married an heiress whose lands were quickly sold off, and he deliberately circumvented a family settlement designed to give him only a life interest in the estate, enabling him to borrow extensively. A disastrous privateering venture against the Spanish West Indies in 1617 further crippled his finances, leading to numerous legal actions and his status as an outlaw.
In a bid to alleviate his financial distress, Bromley arranged his eldest son Henry's marriage to Richard Newport's daughter in 1627, hoping for a £5,000 dowry to settle his debts. This ambition coincided with his re-election to Parliament in 1628, possibly to gain parliamentary privilege, though his outlaw status immediately raised challenges to his seat. It is unclear if he ever actively participated in this parliamentary session.
Bromley's financial woes continued into 1630 when Newport limited the dowry's payment, fearing for his daughter's financial security. Ultimately, Newport and Henry Bromley acquired control of most of the Bromley estate to manage the extensive debts and protect their own interests.
Sir Thomas Bromley died intestate, with his widow managing his estate. An inventory of his modest possessions, taken shortly after his death, revealed a library of mostly French and Italian books among his limited assets. His legacy continued through his grandson, Henry, who also served as an MP for Worcestershire in 1660.