Sir Henry Gibb, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Henry Gibb (died April 8, 1650) was an important Scottish courtier. A courtier is someone who works closely with a king or queen. He was the first person to hold the title of Baronet in his family.

Early Life and Family

Henry Gibb's father was John Gibb of Knock, and his mother was Isobel Lyndsay. His grandfather, Robert Gibb, also worked for the royal family, serving King James V of Scotland.

Working for the Royal Family

Henry Gibb began his career working for the royal family. By 1606, he became a Groom of the Bedchamber for Prince Henry, who was the Prince of Wales. A Groom of the Bedchamber was a trusted helper who assisted the prince with his daily needs.

After Prince Henry passed away in 1612, Henry Gibb continued to serve the royal family. He became a Gentleman of the Bedchamber for King James VI and I. This was another important role, showing he was close to the King.

Special Mission to the Netherlands

In September 1613, King James sent Henry Gibb on a special mission. He traveled to the Low Countries, which are now known as the Netherlands. His task was to stop a duel between two noblemen, Henry Howard and the Earl of Essex. They were arguing about issues related to Henry Howard's sister, Frances Howard.

Challenges at Court

In 1615, Henry Gibb faced some trouble at court. This happened during a difficult time for Robert Carr, the Earl of Somerset, who was a favorite of the King. The Earl of Somerset had married Frances Howard, the same person involved in the duel Gibb tried to stop.

Henry Gibb passed a letter and a message from a man named Lumsden to Elizabeth Schaw, who was a servant of Queen Anne of Denmark. The letter contained incorrect information about a trial. This caused problems for Queen Anne and for other Scottish courtiers. For a short time, Henry Gibb lost his position at court.

A writer named Arthur Wilson later wrote about these events. He said the letter Henry Gibb carried was meant for King James. The letter criticized the actions of a man named Richard Weston and a lawyer named Edward Coke.

Serving King Charles I

Henry Gibb was present when King James VI and I became very ill in 1625. During this time, some medical treatments for the King caused arguments. Henry Gibb criticized the Duke of Buckingham, who was a powerful figure at court. Because of this, Gibb was again forced to leave the court.

However, Henry Gibb later returned to serve King Charles I, who was King James's son. In June 1634, King Charles I gave Henry Gibb the title of Baronet. This was a special honor, making him Sir Henry Gibb, 1st Baronet of Falkland and Carriber. When he died on April 8, 1650, his title ended because he had no children to pass it on to.