Robert Bertie, 3rd Earl of Lindsey facts for kids
Robert Bertie, the 3rd Earl of Lindsey, was an important English nobleman who lived from 1630 to 1701. He was also known as Lord Willoughby de Eresby before he inherited his main title in 1666. He was a member of the Privy Council of England, a group of advisors to the King, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a famous group of scientists.
Contents
Early Life and Travels
Robert Bertie was born on November 8, 1630. His father was Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, and his mother was Martha Cokayne.
When he was a young man, Robert traveled a lot. Between 1647 and 1652, he visited countries in Europe like France and Italy. In 1651, he even studied at the University of Padua, which is a very old and famous university in Italy.
Family Life and Marriages
Robert Bertie was married three times and had several children.
First Marriage
In 1654, he married Mary Massingberd. Mary passed away in the late 1650s. They had one daughter together:
- Lady Arabella Bertie (died 1716), who later married Thomas Savage, 3rd Earl Rivers.
Second Marriage
Before 1660, Robert married Elizabeth Wharton. She was the daughter of Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton. Robert and Elizabeth had five children:
- Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven (1660–1723)
- Rt. Hon. Peregrine Bertie (around 1663–1711)
- Hon. Philip Bertie (around 1664–1728)
- Hon. Norris Bertie (around 1666–1691)
- Hon. Albemarle Bertie (around 1668–1742)
Third Marriage
Around 1670, Robert married for a third time to Lady Elizabeth Pope. She was the daughter of Thomas Pope, 2nd Earl of Downe. They had two children:
- Hon. Charles Bertie (around 1683–1727)
- Lady Elizabeth Bertie, who never married.
Political Career
Robert Bertie was involved in English politics for many years.
Member of Parliament
In 1661, he was elected to represent the town of Boston in the Cavalier Parliament. This was an important group of lawmakers in England. He served in Parliament until 1666.
Becoming Earl of Lindsey
In 1666, Robert's father passed away. Robert then inherited his father's titles, becoming the 3rd Earl of Lindsey and the Lord Great Chamberlain. The Lord Great Chamberlain is a very old and important position in the English royal household.
Influence in Elections
The Bertie family had a strong influence in the town of Stamford when it came to elections. Robert Bertie worked hard to make sure his chosen candidates won.
For example, in 1677, he spent a lot of money to entertain voters in Stamford. This helped his candidate win against the candidate supported by the 4th Earl of Exeter, who used to be the most powerful person in that area.
For a short time, both Robert's brother Peregrine and his younger brother Charles were elected to represent Stamford. However, a political event called the "Exclusion Crisis" in 1679 caused Robert's influence to weaken for a while, and his brothers lost their seats.
His brothers regained their seats in the 1685 election. Later, in 1689, Robert made an agreement with the 5th Earl of Exeter. They decided that each family would choose one person to represent Stamford. Robert's brother Charles held his seat until 1711.
In 1694, Robert helped his younger son Philip get elected alongside Charles. However, the Exeter family put forward their own candidate again in 1698, and Philip did not run for election that time.
