English gentry

The English gentry refers to a social class traditionally composed of landowners who were not part of the nobility but held significant status and influence. Typically, they owned estates and lived comfortably, often involved in local governance and community affairs. During the 16th to 19th centuries, the gentry played a crucial role in British society, embodying values of respectability, land ownership, and an emphasis on social responsibility. While they were beneath the aristocracy in rank, their wealth and education allowed them to wield considerable power, especially before the rise of the industrial middle class.