Endymion Porter facts for kids
Endymion Porter (1587–1649) was an English diplomat and a loyal supporter of the King during the English Civil War. He was known for his close friendship with King Charles I and his love for art.
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Early Life and Royal Service
Endymion Porter was born in 1587. His family had served English kings for a long time. He grew up in Spain, where he worked as a page for a powerful Spanish leader named Olivares.
Later, he came back to England and started working for important people like the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham helped him get a job with King Charles I. Endymion became a "groom of the bedchamber," which meant he was a trusted personal assistant to the King.
In 1622, Endymion was sent to Spain to help with important talks. These talks were about a possible marriage between the Prince of Wales (who would become King Charles I) and a Spanish princess. He even went with the Prince and Buckingham on a trip to Spain in 1623, acting as their interpreter.
Working for the King
Endymion Porter continued to serve King Charles I as a diplomat. In 1628, he went to Spain again to help make peace. In 1634, he traveled to the Netherlands for another mission. He also helped start a trading company called the Courteen association in 1635.
During the English Civil War, Endymion stayed very loyal to King Charles I. He was with the King during battles and important trips. He even joined the King's parliament in Oxford in 1643.
Endymion believed in supporting the King personally. He once wrote that his duty was to follow his King, no matter what. His wife, Olivia, was also very loyal to the King and Queen. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria.
Because of his strong loyalty to the King, some people in parliament did not like him. He was a member of the Long Parliament, but he voted against punishing a powerful royal supporter named Strafford. This made him unpopular with those who opposed the King.
He was also removed from his position as a captain in the local army in London in 1642. Later, he was even named as one of the King's "dangerous counsellors" and was not allowed back into parliament.
Life in Exile and Return
By the end of 1645, the King's side was losing the war. Endymion Porter left England and lived in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. He became very poor because most of his money and property were taken away.
After King Charles I was executed in 1649, Endymion returned to England. He was allowed to get back some of his remaining property. He died shortly after, in August 1649. In his will, he asked his sons to always respect the family of the Duke of Buckingham, who had helped him so much.
Endymion Porter had five sons: George, James, Charles, Philip, and Thomas. They all played roles in the history of that time.
A Lover of Arts and Culture
Endymion Porter was known for his intelligence and good manners. He was well-liked by both King James I and King Charles I. He was also very interested in art and literature.
He wrote poems himself and was a generous supporter of many writers and poets, including William Davenant and Robert Herrick. He was also a smart collector of paintings. He was friends with famous artists like Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck.
Endymion helped King Charles I build his amazing art collection by buying paintings for him from other countries. He also helped get the famous Arundel pictures from Spain. In 2013, a painting of his wife by Anthony van Dyck was discovered to be a masterpiece in a museum in England.
