Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland facts for kids
Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland (born in 1559, died on January 4, 1641) was an important member of the Clifford family. This family was very powerful and owned a large area called Skipton for many years, from 1310 to 1676. Francis Clifford held the title of "Earl," which is a high rank of nobility in England.
Contents
Becoming an Earl
Francis Clifford was the second son of Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland. His mother was Anne Dacre. He became the 4th Earl of Cumberland after his older brother, George, passed away.
His brother George had decided that Francis should inherit the family's lands and title instead of George's own daughter, Anne. This led to a long disagreement between Francis and Anne over who should own the family's properties. Eventually, they settled their differences in 1617.
Important Jobs and Roles
Francis Clifford held many important positions throughout his life. These roles showed his influence and power in England.
Serving in Parliament
He was chosen to be a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.
- He represented the area of Westmorland in 1584 and 1586.
- Later, he represented Yorkshire in 1604.
Other Key Positions
Francis Clifford also took on several other significant jobs:
- In 1600, he became the Sheriff of Yorkshire. A sheriff was like a chief law enforcement officer for a county.
- He was made the constable of Knaresborough Castle in 1604. A constable was in charge of a castle's security.
- In 1605, he became the keeper of Carlisle Castle, another important fortress.
- From 1605 to 1639, he was the Custos Rotulorum of Cumberland. This role meant he was the chief record keeper for the county.
- He also served as a joint Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland (from 1607 to 1639) and Westmorland (from 1607 to 1641). A Lord Lieutenant was the monarch's personal representative in a county.
- In 1619, he became a member of the Council of the North. This council helped govern the northern parts of England.
Family Life
Francis Clifford married Grisold Hughes around March 1589. Grisold was the daughter of Thomas Hughes and Elizabeth Dwnn.
Francis and Grisold had three children:
- Lady Frances Clifford, who married Sir Gervase Clifton, 1st Baronet.
- Lady Margaret Clifford, who passed away in 1622. She married Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford.
- Henry Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland, who was born on February 28, 1591 or 1592, and died on December 11, 1643. Henry later became the 5th Earl of Cumberland after his father.
Francis Clifford passed away on January 21, 1640 or 1641.
