Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland facts for kids

Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland (born 1517 – died January 1570) was an important member of the Clifford family. This family lived at Skipton Castle for many years, from 1310 to 1676. Henry Clifford was known for his connections to the royal family. His first wife, Lady Eleanor Brandon, was a niece of King Henry VIII.

Who Was Henry Clifford?

Henry Clifford was the son of Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland. His mother was Margaret Percy. She was the daughter of Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland. This shows his family had strong ties to other powerful noble families in England.

Henry's Marriages and Children

Henry Clifford was married two times during his life.

First Marriage: Lady Eleanor Brandon

Before June 1537, Henry married Lady Eleanor Brandon. Eleanor was a very important person because she was related to the royal family. Her mother was Mary Tudor, who had been the Queen Consort of France. Mary Tudor was also the sister of King Henry VIII.

This meant Eleanor was King Henry VIII's niece. Because of her royal connection, Eleanor was seventh in line to the English throne. After she passed away, her daughter, Lady Margaret Clifford, took her place in the line of succession. This marriage was very expensive for Henry. It cost him a lot of money and he had to sell some family land.

Henry and Eleanor had three children:

• Lady Margaret Clifford (1540 – 29 September 1596). She later married Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby.
• Henry Clifford, who sadly died as a baby.
• Charles Clifford, who also died as a baby.

After Eleanor passed away in 1547, Henry spent most of his time at home. He worked on managing his family's estates. He did not visit the royal court very often. He went only for special events, like the coronation of Queen Mary I and his daughter's wedding. He also visited when Queen Elizabeth I became queen.

Second Marriage: Anne Dacre

Henry's second wife was Anne Dacre (born around 1521 – died July 1581). Anne was the daughter of William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Talbot.

Henry and Anne had at least three children:

• George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland (8 August 1558 – 30 October 1605). He became the next Earl.
• Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland (1559–1641). He became the Earl after his brother.
• Lady Frances Clifford (died 1592). She married Philip Wharton, 3rd Baron Wharton.

Henry's Role in England

Henry Clifford was involved in some important events during his time. In 1561 and 1562, he and his father-in-law, Lord Dacre, were accused of protecting Catholic priests in the northern part of England.

In 1569, Henry was against the idea of Mary Queen of Scots marrying Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. He even promised to support a major rebellion that year. However, when the time came, he did not act strongly. He helped Lord Scrope to make Carlisle Castle stronger against the rebels.

Henry was known for being a very smart person. His daughter said he had "a good library" and was "studious in all manner of learning." He was also interested in alchemy, which was an early form of chemistry.

Death and Burial

Henry Clifford passed away shortly after January 8, 1570. He died at Brougham Castle. His burial place is at Skipton Castle, which was the family's main home for centuries.