John Herbert (Secretary of State) facts for kids

This is the tomb of John Herbert and his brother William. You can find it in St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff.

Sir John Herbert (born in 1550 – died on 9 July 1617) was an important Welsh figure. He was a skilled lawyer, a diplomat who worked with other countries, and a politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament, many times between 1586 and 1611. He also held a very important job: Secretary of State for both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

Sir John Herbert's Early Life and Education

John Herbert was the son of Matthew Herbert from Swansea, Wales. His family had a connection to a famous person named William Herbert, the first Earl of Pembroke.

It's thought that John Herbert might have studied at Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university. In 1573, he became an honorary member of the College of Doctors of Law. This meant he was recognized as an expert in law. He also earned a Master of Arts degree.

Becoming a Public Servant

Sir John Herbert started his career in important legal roles. From 1575 to 1584, he was a commissioner for the High Court of Admiralty. This court dealt with laws about the sea and ships. Later, from 1586 to 1601, he worked as a Master of Requests. In this job, he helped people who wanted to send petitions or requests directly to the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth I trusted him with even more responsibilities. She made him the secretary for the Council of the North. This council helped govern the northern parts of England. He also became the Keeper of Signet, which meant he was in charge of official seals used on important documents.

Herbert's Political Career

Sir John Herbert was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is a person chosen to represent an area and help make laws for the country.

• In 1586, he became an MP for Grampound.
• In 1587, he earned a special degree in Civil Law from the University of Oxford.
• He was elected MP for Gatton in 1588.
• He also represented Christchurch in 1593 and Bodmin in 1597.

In April 1600, he was given a very important role: the second Secretary of State. This made him a top advisor to the Queen. He also became a member of the Privy Council, a group of close advisors to the monarch. In 1601, he was elected MP for both Glamorgan and Wallingford, choosing to represent Glamorgan.

Besides his work in Parliament, he was also appointed as the Dean of Wells in 1590, a position he held until 1602. In 1602, he was given the special title of "Sir" when he was knighted by the Queen.

After Queen Elizabeth I, he continued his political work under King James I. In 1604, he was elected MP for Monmouthshire and served until 1611. He also became the High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1605, a local official role. In 1607, he was made the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter for life. This was a special role in a very old and important group of knights.

A Skilled Diplomat

Sir John Herbert was known for being very good with languages. He spoke not only English and Welsh but also other languages. This skill made him perfect for talking to people from other countries. He was often sent on important missions to places like Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, and France. These missions were about trade and political matters.

Even though he continued to serve under King James I, the King sometimes preferred to use other advisors. When the main Secretary of State, Robert Cecil, died in 1612, Sir John Herbert hoped to take his place. However, King James I left the position empty for a while. After that, Sir John Herbert was still called Secretary of State, but he didn't have as much power as before.

Sir John Herbert lived in Neath Abbey. He passed away in Cardiff on July 9, 1617, at the age of 67. He was married to Margaret Morgan.

The French Embassy of 1598

In January 1598, Sir John Herbert, along with Sir Robert Cecil and Thomas Wilkes, was chosen to be an ambassador to France. Their mission was to talk about peace between France and Spain. Sadly, Thomas Wilkes passed away soon after they arrived in Rouen, France.

Cecil and Herbert stayed in a house in Paris. They then traveled south to meet Henry IV of France in Angers in March. They had their final meetings with the King in Nantes. As they left, the Duke de Bouillon gave Cecil a special locket with the King's picture. They sailed back home to Portsmouth, England, from a port near Caen, on a ship called the Adventure.