Catherine Howard, Countess of Nottingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Carey
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| Countess of Nottingham | |
Portrait believed to be of Catherine Howard, Countess of Nottingham, attributed to Robert Peake the Elder and his studio, c. 1597.
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| Born | c. 1547 |
| Died | 25 February 1603 (aged 55-56) Arundel House |
| Buried | 25 April 1603 Chelsea Old Church |
| Noble family | Carey |
| Spouse(s) | Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham |
| Issue | Frances Howard, Countess of Kildare William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham Margaret Howard Elizabeth Howard, Countess of Carrick |
| Father | Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon |
| Mother | Anne Morgan |
| Occupation | First Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth I |
Catherine Howard, Countess of Nottingham (born Catherine Carey; around 1547 – 25 February 1603) was a very important person in the court of Elizabeth I of England. She was the Queen's cousin and served as her lady-in-waiting. Catherine was a close friend and trusted helper to Queen Elizabeth for 44 years.
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Life at Court with Queen Elizabeth
Catherine Carey was the oldest daughter of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Anne Morgan. Her father, Henry Carey, was Queen Elizabeth's cousin. This made Catherine also a cousin to the Queen.
Catherine might have joined Elizabeth's home at Hatfield House when she was a child. This was during the time Elizabeth's older sister, Queen Mary, ruled England. When Elizabeth became Queen, Catherine and her younger sister, Philadelphia, came to court. They became maids of honour, which meant they helped the Queen. Their aunt, also named Catherine Carey, helped them get these roles.
Marriage and Family Life
In July 1563, Catherine married Charles Howard. He was a very important person in England. Charles later became the Lord High Admiral of England. This meant he was in charge of the country's navy. In 1597, he became the first Earl of Nottingham.
Catherine was given the special job of First Lady of the Bedchamber by 1572. This was a very close and trusted position. Her daughter, Elizabeth, was the Queen's goddaughter. Elizabeth also served as a maid of honour from 1576 until 1583.
Later, Catherine's daughter, Frances, and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Southwell, also joined the Queen's inner circle. This shows how close Catherine's family was to the Queen.
Later Years and Death
Catherine's health started to get worse in 1601. She passed away at Arundel House on 25 February 1603. This was only a few weeks before Queen Elizabeth also died. Catherine had served the Queen for 45 years. She was buried at Chelsea Old Church on 25 April 1603.
Catherine's Children
Catherine and Charles Howard had five children together. Here are their names:
- Frances Howard (died 1628). She married Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare. Later, she married Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham.
- William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham (1577–1615). He became the 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham. He married Anne St John in 1597.
- Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham (1579–1642). He became the 2nd Earl of Nottingham. He married Charity White in 1597. Later, he married Mary Cokayne in 1620. Mary's father, Sir William Cockayne, was the Lord Mayor of London in 1619.
- Margaret Howard. She married Sir Richard Leveson in 1587. They had one child who died young.
- Elizabeth Howard (died 1646). She was a Maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I from 1576 to 1583. She married Sir Robert Southwell in 1583. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, also served Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth Howard later married John Stewart, 1st Earl of Carrick.
