Arthur Gorges facts for kids
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Sir Arthur Gorges (born around 1569 – died October 10, 1625) was an English sea captain, poet, and translator. He was also a courtier, meaning he was a close helper and friend to the Queen. He came from Somerset, England.
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Early Life and Family
Arthur Gorges was the son of Sir William Gorges. His father was the lord of the manor of Wraxall in Somerset. His mother was Winifred Budockshed, who owned the manor of Budockshed near Plymouth in Devon.
Sir William Gorges was made a knight in Ireland in 1579. He was also a Vice Admiral of the Fleet, a high-ranking naval officer, in 1580. Later, he became the Constable of the Tower of London, which meant he was in charge of the famous Tower. He passed away in the Tower of London in 1584.
Arthur Gorges had a brother named Tristram Gorges. In 1588, during the fight against the Spanish Armada, Tristram was given an important job. Sir Francis Drake trusted him to look after Don Pedro de Valdez, a Spanish leader captured in the battle. Tristram took Don Pedro to the Tower of London.
The Gorges family was well-known during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Some famous relatives included Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who helped start the Province of Maine in America. Arthur Gorges' uncle, Sir Thomas Gorges of Longford Castle, married Helena, Marchioness of Northampton, a noble lady.
Life at Court and Public Service
Arthur Gorges was a cousin to important figures like Walter Raleigh and Charles Arundell. He was part of a group of courtiers connected to the Howard family.
He was chosen to be a Member of Parliament several times. This meant he represented different areas in the English government.
- In 1584, he represented Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.
- In 1589, he represented Camelford.
- In 1593, he represented Dorset.
- In 1601, he represented Rye.
Sir Arthur Gorges also fought in the important campaign against the Spanish Armada. In 1597, he was the commander of a ship called the War-Spite. On this ship, Walter Raleigh sailed as a Vice Admiral. They were part of a naval journey called the Islands Voyage, led by the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux.
For his service, Arthur Gorges was made a knight on October 29, 1597.
Family and Homes
Arthur Gorges lived in a house in Chelsea, London, which was later called Milman House. His family owned a lot of land in Chelsea during Queen Elizabeth's reign. He built a new house there called "Brickills," which later became Stanley House.
In November 1599, Queen Elizabeth visited his "fair new house" in Chelsea. Sir Arthur Gorges gave her a beautiful jewel as a gift. In 1620, he sold a large estate in Chelsea known as Chelsea Park. This estate used to be the home of Thomas More and later became Beaufort House.
Sir Arthur Gorges was married twice. His first wife was Douglas Howard, whom he married in 1584. They had one daughter named Ambrosia (1588–1600). Douglas Howard was the daughter of Henry Howard, 2nd Viscount Howard of Bindon. Her grandfather was Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. He was an uncle to two of King Henry VIII's wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
After Arthur Gorges' first wife, Douglas, passed away, the famous poet Edmund Spenser wrote a poem for her. The poem was called "Daphnaïda." In the poem, Sir Arthur Gorges is called "Alcyon."
Daphnaïda
This poem was a tribute to the death of Douglas Howard. She was the daughter of Henry Lord Howard, Viscount Byndon, and the wife of Arthur Gorges. It was dedicated to Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton.
Arthur Gorges' second marriage was to Elizabeth Clinton in 1597. She was the daughter of Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl of Lincoln. Together, they had twelve children.
His monument, a special memorial, is in Chelsea Old Church. It has a brass plate showing Sir Arthur Gorges and his six sons kneeling on one side of a small table. His wife and five daughters are shown kneeling on the other side.
Writings and Translations
Sir Arthur Gorges was also a writer and translator.
- He translated "Lucans Pharsalia" into English. This book included a poem written by his friend, Walter Raleigh, as an introduction.
- He also translated Francis Bacon's book The Wisedome of the Ancients from Latin into English.
His poems are included in the Oxford Book of Sonnets (2000). This book was published by the Oxford University Press. Other famous poets of his time, like Walter Raleigh, Edmund Spenser, and Michael Drayton, are also in the book.
Books About Sir Arthur Gorges
- Arthur Gorges, Spenser's Alcyon and Ralegh's friend. By Helen Estabrook Sandison.
- Poems. By Arthur Gorges, Sir; Helen Estabrook Sandison. Published in Oxford, 1953.
- The Story of a Family through Eleven Centuries. By Raymond Gorges, Frederick Brown. Published in 1944.
Images for kids
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Arms of Gorges (modern): This family symbol shows a pattern of gold and blue diamonds, with a red V-shape. These symbols were decided after a famous legal case about family symbols in 1347.
