Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon facts for kids
Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon (born April 24, 1586 – died November 14, 1643), was an important English nobleman. He lived in England during the early 1600s. He was also known for supporting writers and artists of his time.
Who Was Henry Hastings?
Henry was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, a town in Leicestershire, England. He was one of three sons of Francis Hastings, Baron Hastings and Lady Sarah Harington. His family had a long history, and he was a distant relative of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury.
Henry studied at Gray's Inn, a famous place for legal education. In 1595, his father passed away. This meant Henry was next in line to become the Earl of Huntingdon after his grandfather, George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon. He officially became the 5th Earl on December 31, 1604.
Henry's Role in England
When he was 21, in 1607, Henry led soldiers to stop a rebellion called the Midland Revolt. As an adult, he held many important jobs in the counties of Leicestershire, Lancashire, and Rutland. For example, he was the Lord Lieutenant of Leicester and Rutland from 1614 to 1642. This role meant he was the King's representative in those areas. He was also part of the Virginia Company, which helped set up the first English colonies in America.
The Earls of Huntingdon traditionally helped govern the town of Leicester. However, Henry had a disagreement with the town in 1606. They didn't send him a usual New Year's gift, which upset him. Even when they tried to make amends later, the disagreement lasted for about a year.
Family Life
On January 15, 1601, Henry married Lady Elizabeth Stanley (1588–1633). She was the youngest daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby. Elizabeth was also a distant relative of Mary Tudor, who was the sister of King Henry VIII. At one point, Elizabeth was third in line to become Queen of England! However, Mary Tudor died before Henry VIII, so her descendants were not chosen to rule. Instead, James VI of Scotland became king.
Henry and Elizabeth lived at Ashby-de-la-Zouch castle in Leicestershire. They had four children together:
- Lady Alice Hastings (1606–1667), who married Sir Gervase Clifton, 1st Baronet. She did not have children.
- Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon (January 18, 1609 – February 13, 1655). He married Lucy Davies and had children.
- Lord Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough, of Loughborough (September 28, 1610 – January 10, 1667). He also had children.
- Lady Elizabeth Hastings (born around 1605), who married Sir Hugh Calverley. She did not have children.
Supporting the Arts
Henry Hastings was known for being a leader in the Puritan movement. This group wanted to change some things about the Church of England. He also disagreed with some of the policies of the House of Stuart, the royal family at the time.
Despite his political views, Henry was a big supporter of plays and theater. He was like other important people of his time, such as the Earls of Pembroke, William Herbert and Philip Herbert. Henry Hastings was especially known for supporting the famous playwrights Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. (Henry and Francis Beaumont were actually distant cousins!) He also supported other writers, including John Marston. Marston wrote a special play called a masque at Ashby Castle, which was performed at Henry's home in 1607.
When Henry Hastings passed away in 1643, his oldest son, Ferdinando Hastings, became the 6th Earl.
