Francis Stuart (sailor) facts for kids
Sir Francis Stuart, also known as Frank Stewart, was an important person in England from 1589 to 1635. He was a sailor, a nobleman, a member of Parliament, and worked closely with the King.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Francis Stuart was born in 1589 at Donibristle in Fife, Scotland. His parents were James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray. He went to Christ Church, Oxford for his education. King James helped him with money for his studies, giving him £200 each year.
Court Life and Knighthood
In 1603, Francis's sister, Margaret, married Charles Howard, a famous Admiral. Francis was knighted in 1610. This happened when Prince Henry was made Prince of Wales. After this, Francis joined the navy.
In 1614, William Cavendish suggested that Francis should become a full English citizen. This was discussed in Parliament.
In 1615, Francis was involved in an event that upset the King. He delivered a letter from Sir Thomas Howard to Viscount Haddington. The letter contained some sensitive political ideas.
Francis had an important role at the funeral of Anne of Denmark in May 1619. He carried the banner of the Goths during the ceremony.
Journey to Spain
In May 1623, Francis was sent to Spain. This was during the time of the Spanish Match, when there were talks about Prince Charles marrying a Spanish princess. Francis's job was to take official papers to make George Villiers a Duke and an Earl. He was paid £200 for this trip. He sailed on a ship called the St George.
Francis also brought a collection of jewels for Prince Charles. Many of these jewels had belonged to Anne of Denmark. They included a special sword, a large diamond called the "Portugal diamond," and a unique pearl. There were also jeweled head decorations and a ring shaped like a frog. King James had some concerns about sending these jewels. He thought some of the head decorations were too valuable for anyone but a queen. He suggested giving one to the Queen of Spain or bringing them back to England. The "Portugal diamond" was eventually returned to England.
In July 1625, Francis sailed to the Mediterranean Sea. He commanded ships like the Lion and Rainbow. Their mission was to fight against Turkish pirates. He wrote to Sir John Coke about the problem of sailors leaving the ships. It was risky to send men ashore for fresh water.
In April 1626, King Charles I decided to remove Francis from his court position. However, the Earl of Pembroke spoke up for him. He told the King that King James had liked Francis very much.
In July 1627, Francis showed great skill near the Azores islands. He managed to avoid a Spanish fleet even though the weather made it hard to see. That same year, he commanded the ship Hector. This ship was part of a privateering mission led by the Earl of Warwick to the Spanish West Indies.
Interests and Legacy
Francis Stuart was also interested in science. According to John Aubrey, Sir Robert Moray shared observations about comets with the Royal Society. These observations were originally made by Thomas Harriot and heard from Sir Francis.
John Cleland dedicated a part of his book Ero-paideia (1607) to Francis. The book was about good behavior.
Ben Jonson dedicated the 1619 edition of his play Epicœne, or The silent woman to Francis. Francis had defended the play in 1610 when some people said it was offensive.
Francis Stuart passed away in Chelsea in 1635. He never married. His house was rented from his sister, the Countess of Nottingham. He had borrowed £600 from Agrippina Gilborne.
Francis had a daughter named Frances. Her mother was Mrs. Cecily Reyman. Cecily Reyman later married Bryan Bickley.
