Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester facts for kids
Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester (born March 1606 – died 8 December 1680), was an important English nobleman. He was a member of the Privy Council, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. His father was Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, and his mother was Gertrude Talbot.
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Henry Pierrepont's Career and Titles
Henry Pierrepont started his public life as Viscount Newark in 1628. From 1628 to 1629, he was a member of parliament for Nottingham. In 1641, he joined the House of Lords, which is part of the English Parliament. He inherited his father's title, becoming the 2nd Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, in 1643.
During the English Civil War
During the early part of the English Civil War, a big conflict in England, Henry Pierrepont supported King Charles I. He stayed with the King in Oxford and represented him in important talks. In 1645, the King made him a Privy Counsellor and gave him the new title of Marquess of Dorchester.
However, after the King's side lost, Lord Dorchester had to pay a large fine to the parliamentarians in 1647. This was to keep his family's lands.
Life After the War
After the war, Lord Dorchester spent most of his time in London. He loved books and spent his days studying medicine and law. Some people made fun of him for his interest in medicine. His large collection of books is now part of the library at the Royal College of Physicians.
In 1658, he became a Fellow of the College of Physicians. After the King was restored to power in 1660, Lord Dorchester was again made a member of the Privy Council. He also became the Recorder of Nottingham and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Henry Pierrepont's Personality
Henry Pierrepont was known for having a strong temper and sometimes getting into arguments.
Disputes and Arguments
In 1660, he challenged his son-in-law, who would later become the Duke of Rutland, to a duel. A duel was a formal fight to settle disagreements. Dorchester was upset because his daughter Anne's marriage to Rutland was very unhappy.
Earlier, in 1638, he had to ask the King for a special forgiveness, called a royal pardon. This was because he had gotten into a fight with someone named Philip Kinder inside Westminster Abbey during a church service.
In 1666, he and George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, had a physical fight in a room at Westminster during a meeting of Parliament. Because they broke the rules of Parliament, they were both sent to the Tower of London. However, they were released soon after they apologized.
Family Life and Children
Henry Pierrepont was married twice.
First Marriage
He first married Cecilia Bayning. They had four children:
- Lady Anne Pierrepont (born 9 March 1630): She married John Manners. Their marriage was very difficult. In 1670, John Manners was allowed to get a divorce through a special law passed by Parliament. This was very unusual for the time.
- Grace Pierrepont
- Henry Pierrepont (died 1649)
- Robert Pierrepont
Second Marriage
His second wife was Lady Catherine Stanley. They did not have any children together.
Henry Pierrepont lived longer than both of his sons. When he died in London on 8 December 1680, the title of Marquess of Dorchester ended because he had no sons to pass it on to. His nephew, Robert (who died in 1682), became the 3rd Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull. After Robert, his brother William (who died in 1690) became the 4th Earl.
