Henry Killigrew (diplomat) facts for kids
Sir Henry Killigrew (born around 1528 – died 1603) was an important diplomat from Cornwall, England. He worked as an ambassador for the Kingdom of England during the 1500s.
Queen Elizabeth I often sent him on special missions, especially to Scotland. He also served on the Council of State of the Netherlands in the United Provinces from 1586 to 1589. Sir Henry was a Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas in Cornwall, including Newport & Launceston, Saltash, and Truro.
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Sir Henry's Career and Public Service
Henry Killigrew was the fourth son of John III Killigrew. His family was old and well-known in Cornwall. His father was the first Governor of Pendennis Castle. Henry likely studied at Cambridge University, though we don't have exact details.
He worked for John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Henry remained loyal to the Dudley family throughout his life.
Early Political Life and Exile
In 1553, Henry became a Member of Parliament for Newport-juxta-Launceston. When Queen Mary came to power, Henry helped Sir Peter Carew escape England. During Queen Mary's reign, Henry lived outside England.
He was in Paris in 1556 and was called a rebel by English officials. He and his brother Peter were involved in some unauthorized activities from France.
In 1557, Henry was at the Battle of St. Quentin. A friend, Sir James Melville, mentioned Henry helped him after he was injured.
Working for Queen Elizabeth I
When Elizabeth I became Queen, Henry was called back to England. She quickly began using his skills for diplomatic tasks. He went to Germany to help with talks about a defensive alliance. In 1559, he briefly assisted Nicholas Throckmorton in France.
Henry had powerful friends like Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and William Cecil, Lord Burghley. He supported their Protestant ideas. In 1562, he led soldiers at Rouen as part of an expedition.
Missions to Scotland
In 1566, Queen Elizabeth sent Henry to Mary, Queen of Scots. His job was to discuss ways to keep their friendship strong. He also congratulated Mary on the birth of Prince James. Henry met Mary and saw the baby prince. He returned to England in July.
After the murder of Lord Darnley, Mary's husband, Henry was sent to Scotland again. He delivered a secret message to the Queen of Scots.
In 1572, Henry was elected MP for Truro. Later that year, after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in France, he went to Scotland again. This time, he was involved in very secret talks about Mary, Queen of Scots.
Henry eventually convinced Queen Elizabeth to send English troops to help with the siege of Edinburgh Castle. He wrote many letters to Lord Burghley, describing the siege and the talks that led to the castle's surrender.
After Edinburgh Castle fell in 1573, Henry helped arrange the removal of cannons from Hume Castle. He also dealt with jewels belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots. He received gifts from Regent Morton, a Scottish leader, for his work.
In 1575, Henry returned to Scotland to discuss a formal alliance between England and Scotland. He also talked about payments for Scottish leaders and the care of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Later Diplomatic Work and Knighthood
Henry continued to serve as a diplomat in Scotland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The Treaty of Nonsuch allowed England to appoint two advisors to the Dutch council. Henry served on the Dutch Council of State in 1586 and again from 1587 to 1589.
He was knighted on November 22, 1591, while with the Earl of Essex in France. Sir Henry Killigrew was one of the first people in England to write about his experiences as a public servant. He passed away in the spring of 1603.
Artistic Interests
David Lloyd praised Sir Henry Killigrew for his intelligence and artistic talents. Lloyd said Henry was a good musician and a very skilled painter. He compared Henry's painting to famous artists like Dürer, Michelangelo, and Holbein. However, no paintings known to be by him exist today.
Sir Henry also gave money to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. This money helped build a lodge for the college's first master. His home in London was in an area called Lothbury.
Family Life
Sir Henry Killigrew lived in Hanworth in Middlesex and Falmouth in Cornwall.
On November 4, 1566, he married Catherine Cooke in London. Catherine was the daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke. This marriage made Henry the brother-in-law of his patron, William Cecil. Catherine passed away in 1583.
On November 7, 1590, he married Jaél de Peigne, a French Huguenot. She became an English citizen in 1601. After Henry's death, Jaél married George Downham, who became the Bishop of Derry. She died around 1632.
Children
With his first wife, Catherine, Sir Henry had four daughters:
- Anne, who married Sir Henry Neville and later George Carleton.
- Elizabeth, who married Sir Jonathan Trelawny, then Sir Thomas Reynell, and later Sir Thomas Lower.
- Mary, who married Sir Reginald Mohun.
- Dorothy, who married Sir Edward Seymour.
With his second wife, Jaél, he had a daughter and two sons:
- Jane
- Joseph
- Henry
His son Joseph was ten years old when Sir Henry died and inherited his father's properties.
In Fiction
Sir Henry Killigrew is an important character in the historical novel The Grove of Eagles by Winston Graham. In the book, he is shown as a kind and trustworthy person. The story often focuses on his nephew, John Killigrew, who hopes his uncle's influence can save him from financial trouble. In real life, Henry did help his nephew financially, but couldn't prevent his ruin.
The novel shows Henry as one of the few advisors Queen Elizabeth truly trusted. He is described as being "as close to her as a Father Confessor." Another character notes that while many people came and went in the Queen's court, a few, like Henry, served her for many years. His second marriage to Jael de Peigne is shown as a bit difficult in the book.
