Sir Henry Lello facts for kids
Sir Henry Lello was an important English diplomat. He also worked as the Warden of the Fleet Prison and was in charge of the Palace of Westminster.
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Sir Henry Lello's Early Diplomatic Work
Henry Lello started his career in Constantinople, which is now called Istanbul. He worked at the English Embassy there, helping the ambassador, Edward Barton. Constantinople was the capital of the powerful Ottoman Empire. In 1597, Henry Lello became the ambassador himself.
Challenges as Ambassador
As ambassador, Henry Lello faced many challenges. He was not as popular as the ambassadors who came before him, like William Harborne and Sir Edward Barton. He found his job quite difficult. In 1607, he complained that bribery was a big problem. He felt that money and corruption were controlling everything, and that laws or religious rules were not followed.
A Special Gift for the Sultan
When Henry Lello first became ambassador, he helped arrange a very special gift. This gift was an amazing organ-clock, ordered by Queen Elizabeth I of England. A skilled organ-maker named Thomas Dallam built it. The queen wanted this gift to impress the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She hoped it would show that England was important and help them get good trading deals. Other European countries like Germany and France were also trying to get trading rights.
Leaving Constantinople
After his time as ambassador, Henry Lello left Constantinople on May 24, 1607.
Family Connections
Henry Lello had a nephew named Edward Hopkins. Edward Hopkins later became the Governor of Connecticut, a colony in America.
See also
- List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to the Ottoman Empire
