John Vaughan, 1st Earl of Carbery facts for kids

John Vaughan, 1st Earl of Carbery (born 1574 or 1575 – died 1634), was an important Welsh figure. He was a courtier, meaning he served at the royal court, and a politician. He was a member of the House of Commons in 1601 and again from 1621 to 1622.

Vaughan first worked for Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. Later, he served Prince Charles, who was the son and heir of King James I. However, his career ended when Prince Charles became king in 1625. Vaughan later said that serving the Prince had cost him a lot of money, about £20,000, which he never got back.

Early Life and Beginnings

John Vaughan was born into a family from Carmarthenshire, Wales. His father was Walter Vaughan of Golden Grove, who passed away in 1597. His mother was Katherine, whose father was Gruffydd ap Rhys of Dinefwr. John's grandfather, also named John, was the first of their family to live at Golden Grove. The family believed they were descended from Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, a Welsh prince who lived in the 11th century.

John Vaughan had two brothers who also became well-known. One was William Vaughan, a writer. The other was Henry Vaughan, who also became a Member of Parliament.

In 1592, when he was 17, John Vaughan began his studies at Jesus College, Oxford. A few years later, in 1596, he joined the Inner Temple, which was a place where people studied law.

Serving the Earl of Essex

John Vaughan's early career was closely connected to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. The Earl of Essex even called Vaughan his "servant" in 1598. Vaughan also married the daughter of Essex's main helper in Wales.

In 1599, Vaughan went with the Earl of Essex on his trip to Ireland. There, he was made a knight. However, when the Earl of Essex later rebelled against Queen Elizabeth, Vaughan was suspected of being involved. Luckily, his good name was soon restored. He was elected to represent Carmarthenshire in the Parliament in 1601 and again in 1621. After King James I became king in 1603, Vaughan focused on his role in Carmarthenshire. He was appointed High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1605, which was an important local position.

Working for Prince Charles

John Vaughan worked hard to get a job in the household of Prince Charles, who was the heir to the throne. In 1614, he asked the Earl of Somerset, a close friend of the king, for help. He was successful! In 1616, when Prince Charles's household was set up, Vaughan became the comptroller. This was a profitable job.

In 1621, while Parliament was not meeting, Vaughan was given the title of baron of Mullingar in Ireland. This raised questions about whether he could still be a Member of the House of Commons. After this, he did not try to be elected to Parliament again.

The Trip to Spain

In 1623, Vaughan went with Prince Charles on a special trip to Spain. The prince was hoping to marry Maria Anna of Spain, a Spanish princess. This journey was called the "Spanish Match" and it did not go well.

During this time, there were rumors that Vaughan had become a Catholic while in Spain. The trip also cost him a lot of money, between £3,000 and £4,000, he said. When Charles became king in 1625, Vaughan was removed from his job as comptroller. He did not receive any payment for his service or a new position.

In 1628, he asked for his money back for the expenses he had during the trip to Spain. He told Sir John Coke that serving Prince Charles had cost him about £20,000 in total. In 1628, he was given the title of Earl of Carbery in Ireland. It's not clear if this title was meant to pay him back or if he had to pay for it himself.

John Vaughan stayed at Golden Grove, his family's estate in Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He passed away there in May 1634. He was buried in the family tomb at the church of Llandeilo Fawr, Carmarthenshire. His only son who survived him, Richard, inherited his title.

Family Life

John Vaughan first married Margaret, the daughter of Sir Gelly Meyrick. They had children together. Margaret's father, Sir Gelly Meyrick, was involved in the Earl of Essex's rebellion and faced serious consequences in 1601. However, King James I later restored Margaret Vaughan and her brother Roland Meyrick's family rights in 1606.

Vaughan later married Jane (born around 1563 – died 1643) as his second wife. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer and the widow of Sir William Meredith. When she married Vaughan, she became known as the Countess of Carbery and she outlived him.

John Vaughan's children who survived from his first marriage were his oldest son, Richard, and his daughter Elizabeth (died before 1642). Elizabeth married Sir Henry Salusbury, 1st Baronet.

Vaughan also had a sister named Elinor, who married John Protheroe.