Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl of Lincoln facts for kids

Henry Clinton, the 2nd Earl of Lincoln, was an important English nobleman who lived from 1539 to 1616. He held the title of Baron Clinton from 1572 before becoming Earl of Lincoln in 1585. During his time, he was a powerful figure in England, known for his strong personality and involvement in many public matters.

Life as an Earl

Arms of the Clinton family.

Henry Clinton was the oldest son of the 1st Earl of Lincoln, Edward Clinton. His mother was Ursula Stourton. In 1553, Henry was given the special honor of being made a Knight of the Bath.

He also played a role in government. In 1571, he was elected to the House of Commons, representing the area of Lincolnshire. He also served as a Captain of Horse in the Royal Guards starting in 1569. Henry also held important naval positions as Vice-Admiral of Lincolnshire and of Yorkshire.

When his father passed away in 1585, Henry inherited the titles of Earl of Lincoln and Baron Clinton. He also inherited Tattershall Castle. His wife, Elizabeth, had rights to another family property at Sempringham. Henry was known for having disagreements with others, including a poet named Tailboys Dymoke.

The Earl often faced challenges and was involved in many legal matters. He sometimes expanded his castle walls into the nearby churchyard. He frequently traveled to London because of these legal issues, rather than staying at his home, Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire.

Diplomatic Missions

In 1596, Henry Clinton was sent as an ambassador to Germany. His mission was to attend the baptism of Elizabeth, the daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse. He traveled from Yarmouth in June with his son Edward and other companions.

A published account described the trip, noting that they stayed at the castle of Zappenburg. Near Kassel, they were met by a servant of the Landgrave riding a camel. However, some people, like Anthony Bacon, felt that Henry was not very successful as a diplomat.

Financial Challenges

Henry Clinton sometimes faced financial difficulties. In January 1600, he wrote to the Earl of Shrewsbury, explaining that he needed money. He was waiting for a payment from the Countess of Bedford and had even pawned his best jewels.

In April 1601, Queen Elizabeth I was supposed to visit his mansion in Chelsea. However, Henry left Chelsea without telling the Queen's party. This caused a lot of concern among the Queen's advisors. They had knocked on his gates and saw his servants inside, but they were not let in. Henry later said it was all a "misunderstanding."

Henry Clinton passed away at Sempringham on September 29, 1616. His son, Thomas, became the 3rd Earl of Lincoln.

Family Life

Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire, the family home of the Earls of Lincoln.

Henry Clinton was married twice.

His first marriage was in 1557 to Lady Catherine Hastings. She was the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. Henry and Catherine had several children:

• Thomas Clinton, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, who later became the 3rd Earl.
• Sir Edward Clinton, who married Mary Dighton.
• Lady Elizabeth Clinton, who married Sir Arthur Gorges.

After Catherine passed away, Lord Lincoln married Elizabeth Morrison in 1586. She was the daughter of Sir Richard Morrison. Henry and Elizabeth had one son:

• Sir Henry Clinton (1587–1641), who also had children and continued the family line.