Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Henry Herbert
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| 2nd Earl of Pembroke | |
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| Born | c. 1538 |
| Died | 19 January 1601 (aged 62–63) Wilton, England |
| Buried | Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England |
| Noble family | Herbert |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Katherine Grey Lady Catherine Talbot Mary Sidney |
| Issue | William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke Lady Anne Herbert Katherine Herbert |
| Father | William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke |
| Mother | Anne Parr, Countess of Pembroke |
Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, was an important Welsh nobleman and politician during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived from about 1538 to 1601. He was known for his connections to powerful families and his love for culture and history.
Henry was the nephew of Queen Catherine Parr, who was King Henry VIII's last wife. He was also the brother-in-law of Lady Jane Grey through his first marriage.
Life and Early Years
Henry Herbert was the son of William Herbert, the 1st Earl of Pembroke, and Anne Parr. His aunt was Queen Catherine Parr, who married King Henry VIII. His uncle, William Parr, was also a very important person during the reigns of King Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth I.
Henry was responsible for the expensive repairs and improvements to Cardiff Castle. Like many in his family, he enjoyed art and learning. He especially supported people who studied old things and family histories. He also collected many important historical documents.
Henry went to Peterhouse, Cambridge, a famous university, where he was taught by Archbishop John Whitgift. He may have also studied in Douay, France. In 1554, when his father hosted King Philip II of Spain's men, Henry's good manners were noticed. He was then made a gentleman who served King Philip when he arrived in England.
In 1557, Henry took part in a knight's tournament held for Queen Mary. He also went with his father to the siege of St Quentin, a big battle.
When his father passed away in 1570, Henry became the Earl of Pembroke. On April 4, 1570, he was given the important job of Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. This meant he was the Queen's main representative in that area. He also inherited other titles from his mother's side of the family.
Life at Court
In the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Herbert was seen as a supporter of Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. They were very close friends. Henry played a big part in the trials of important people. These included the 4th Duke of Norfolk, Mary, Queen of Scots in 1586, and Philip Howard, the Earl of Arundel, in 1589.
In 1586, Henry took over from his father-in-law, Sir Henry Sidney, as the Lord President of Wales. He held this powerful position until he died. Around the same time, he also became the Vice-Admiral of South Wales. Because of these roles, he spent a lot of time at Ludlow Castle. This was the official home for the President of Wales, and he worked hard there.
During the 1590s, Henry Herbert supported a theatre group called Pembroke's Men. This group was the first to perform several plays, including The Isle of Dogs. This play was written by famous writers like Thomas Nashe and Ben Jonson.
By 1595, people described Henry as being very unwell. By September 1599, it was thought he might not live much longer. Henry died at Wilton House on January 19, 1601. He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.
Marriages and Family
Henry Herbert was married three times.
His first marriage was to Lady Katherine Grey. She was the sister of Lady Jane Grey. They married on May 25, 1553. This marriage was arranged for political reasons by their parents. They hoped it would help the Duke of Northumberland's plan to make Jane Queen. Lady Jane Grey also married the Duke's son on the same day. Henry's marriage was never fully completed. In 1554, Queen Mary I influenced his father to end the marriage.
His second wife was Lady Catherine Talbot. They married in 1563. This was a double wedding, as their brother and sister also married each other that day. Queen Elizabeth I liked Lady Catherine very much. When Catherine became very ill, the Queen often visited her. Catherine died in 1575 and did not have any children with Henry.
By April 1577, Henry married his third wife, Mary Sidney. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley. Mary Dudley was the daughter of John Dudley, the 1st Duke of Northumberland. This made Mary Sidney the younger sister of Guilford Dudley. Henry and Mary had several children. Their sons, William and Philip, both became Earls of Pembroke after their father. They also had two daughters, Katherine and Lady Anne Herbert, who both died when they were young children.
Legacy
The special suit of armour that belonged to Henry Herbert is now on display. You can see it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This armour was made in 1580 at the Greenwich armoury. This was a royal workshop started by King Henry VIII. It made armour for important English nobles, like Henry, so they didn't have to buy it from other countries.
Portraits of Henry Herbert and his father, William, are on display. You can see them at the National Museum Wales in Cardiff. This museum is right next to Cardiff Castle. The Herbert family owned and lived in Cardiff Castle for much of the 1500s.
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