John Neville, 4th Baron Latimer facts for kids

John Neville, 4th Baron Latimer (born around 1520, died April 22, 1577), was an important English nobleman. He was also the stepson of Catherine Parr, who later became the sixth wife of King Henry VIII.

John Neville's Early Life

John Neville was born around 1520. He was the only son of John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer. His mother was Dorothy de Vere. She passed away in 1527.

After his mother's death, John's father married twice more. His third wife was Catherine Parr, who was already a widow. Catherine was known to be a very kind stepmother to John and his sister, Margaret. Margaret even wrote in her will that she was very thankful for Catherine's "godly education and tender love."

During his teenage years, John faced some challenges. His father, the 3rd Baron, made sure that John would not have full control over his inheritance right away. Instead, Catherine Parr was put in charge of John's affairs until his sister Margaret became an adult.

In January 1537, a big event happened. John, his sister Margaret, and his stepmother Catherine were held hostage at Snape Castle. This happened during a major rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace. The rebels threatened to harm the family if John's father did not return quickly. Luckily, his father managed to convince the rebels to release his family safely.

Later Years and Public Service

John Neville became the 4th Baron Latimer when his father died on March 2, 1543. His stepmother, Catherine Parr, remained close to the family. When she married King Henry VIII and became queen, she made John's wife, Lucy Somerset, one of her ladies-in-waiting.

In May 1544, John Neville took part in a military campaign in Scotland. He was involved in the siege of Edinburgh. During this time, he was knighted near Coldingham. After that, he went to war in France and helped with the siege of Abbeville.

Later in his life, the 4th Baron faced some personal difficulties. In the summer of 1553, he was sent to Fleet Prison. This was due to issues with his behavior towards a servant. People at the time noted that this was "too great a villainy for a noble man." It seems that his stepmother, Catherine, might have helped him manage his behavior while she was alive.

The 4th Baron Latimer passed away in 1577. He did not have any sons. After his death, the title of Baron Latimer was claimed by a distant relative. However, it was later decided that the title should have been shared among his four daughters. Eventually, in 1913, the title was officially given to one of his descendants, Francis Money-Coutts, 5th Baron Latymer.

Family and Daughters

Dorothy, Countess of Exeter (1549–1608), Latimer's second daughter and first wife of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter

In 1545, John Neville married Lucy Somerset. She was the daughter of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester. Lucy became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine Parr, her husband's former stepmother.

John and Lucy had four daughters:

• Katherine (born around 1545–46, died October 28, 1596). She first married Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland. Later, she married Francis Fitton.
• Dorothy (born around 1548, died 1609). She married Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter.
• Lucy (born around 1549, died April 1608). She married Sir William Cornwallis.
• Elizabeth (born around 1550, died 1630). She first married Sir John Danvers. Her second husband was Sir Edmund Carey.

All of their daughters had children from their first marriages.