Frances Burke, Countess of Clanricarde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances Burke
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| Countess of Clanricarde Dowager Countess of Essex |
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The Countess of Essex, and her son Robert by Robert Peake the Elder, 1594
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| Born | 1567 England |
| Died | 17 February 1633 (aged 65–66) Kent, England |
| Buried | Tonbridge |
| Noble family | Devereux (by marriage) |
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| Issue | Elizabeth Manners, Countess of Rutland The 3rd Earl of Essex Lady Dorothy Devereux Frances, Duchess of Somerset The 1st Marquess of Clanricarde Honora Paulet, Marchioness of Winchester |
| Father | Sir Francis Walsingham |
| Mother | Ursula St. Barbe |
Frances Burke (born Walsingham, later Sidney and Devereux) was an important English noblewoman who lived from 1567 to 1633. She was the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, who was a very important advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. Frances was married three times during her life. Each marriage connected her to powerful and famous families in England and Ireland.
Contents
Frances Walsingham's Early Life and First Marriage
Frances Walsingham was the only child of Sir Francis Walsingham and Ursula St. Barbe to survive into adulthood. Her father was the Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth I. This meant he was one of the Queen's most trusted advisors.
Frances became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth. This role meant she helped the Queen and spent time at court. In 1583, when she was about 16 years old, Frances married Philip Sidney. Her father arranged this marriage. Queen Elizabeth was not happy about it at first. She might have worried that two powerful families would become too strong together.
Philip Sidney was appointed Governor of Flushing, a town in the Netherlands. He went there for his duties. Frances, who was expecting her first child, waited in England. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1585. She was named after the Queen, who had forgiven the couple and even became one of the baby's godparents.
In June 1586, Frances traveled to the Netherlands to join her husband. Sadly, Philip Sidney was hurt in a battle in September 1586. Frances, who was pregnant again, cared for him. But he died on October 17. Frances brought his body back to England, where he received a hero's funeral. Sadly, she lost her second child.
Second Marriage to Robert Devereux
In 1590, Frances's father, Sir Francis Walsingham, passed away. He left her with some money each year. She married again, this time to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. He was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. This marriage also made the Queen unhappy at first. This was partly because Frances and Robert did not ask for her permission before getting married. However, the Queen forgave them fairly quickly.
Frances and Robert had three children who lived past infancy. Their names were Frances, Robert, and Dorothy. Sadly, her husband Robert was executed in 1601. This happened after he was involved in an attempt to challenge the Queen's power. Frances tried to see the Queen to speak for him, but she was not allowed. After his death, her son Robert became the third Earl of Essex.
Third Marriage and Later Life
In 1603, Frances married for the third time. Her new husband was Richard Burke, who was an Earl in Ireland. They had one son, Ulick, and two daughters, Honora and Margaret (or Mary).
Frances and Richard lived in both Ireland and England. They built grand homes in both countries. In 1609, they built a large house called Somerhill in Kent, England. Around 1618, they started building Portumna Castle in County Galway, Ireland.
Frances Burke passed away in early 1633 at Somerhill. She was buried at St Peter and St Paul church in Tonbridge, England. She and her husband have statues there.
Images for kids
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The Countess of Essex, and her son Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
