Sir Andrew Judde, Knight, the founder of Tonbridge School was born c 1492 in Tonbridge to John and Margaret Judde. As a young man he went to London and was apprenticed to the Company of Skinners where through trade - he is styled a "skinner and merchant of Muscovy" - he amassed a large fortune, a considerable portion of which he used on the foundation of Tonbridge School. In 1544, Sir Andrew Judde filled the office of Sheriff of London, and in 1550-1551 was Lord Mayor when he took an active role in opposing Thomas Wyatt's rebellion. In 1555, he was Lord Deputy and Mayor of the Staple of Calais.

In May 1553 he obtained the charter from the King that "henceforth there may and shall be one Grammar School in the said Town of Tonbridge which shall be called the Free Grammar School of the aforesaid Sir Andrew Judd, Knight, in the said Town of Tonbridge, for the education institution and instruction of Boys and Youth in Grammar, to continue for ever.". By the time of Sir Andrew's death in 1558 the original school had been built and the first headmaster - Rev. John Proctor - appointed. The date of the original statutes for the school is uncertain but they were drawn up during Sir Andrew's lifetime and formally adopted six years after his death in 1564.

Sir Andrew Judde married three times and his daughter Alice from the first marriage married Thomas Smyth and their son Sir Thoams Smythe (c 1558 - 1625) was a major benefactor to the school.

Sir Andrew died on 4th September 1558 and was buried on the 14th in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, where there is a marble monument in his honour