William Cornwallis (died 1614) facts for kids

Sir William Cornwallis (born around 1576 – died July 1, 1614) was an early English writer known for his essays. He also worked for the royal court and was a member of Parliament. His writing style was inspired by a French writer named Montaigne, and his essays later became a guide for other English essayists. Sometimes, people confuse him with his uncle, who had the same name.

Who Was Sir William Cornwallis?

William Cornwallis was born in Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk, England. He was the oldest child of Sir Charles Cornwallis, a diplomat, and his first wife, Elizabeth Farnham. His family had lived in Fincham for many years.

His Life and Career

William Cornwallis became a member of Parliament for a place called Orford in 1604 and again in 1614. He was made a knight in 1599 after he served in the Irish campaign with the Earl of Essex.

When King James I became king in 1603, Cornwallis joined the king's special group of advisors, known as the privy chamber.

On August 26, 1595, William Cornwallis married Katherine Parker. They had eleven children together. Some of their children were Charles, Thomas, Henry, William, John, Phillip, Frances, Katherine, Bridget, Anne, and Jeane.

William Cornwallis spent a lot of money, which led to him having many debts. He had to sell parts of his family's land to pay these debts. After 1605, he mostly lived a quiet life, focusing on his studies. He passed away in 1614. He was buried in St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. His wife, Katherine, died later in 1636.

Avoiding Confusion

It's easy to mix up this William Cornwallis with his uncle, Sir William Cornwallis of Brome, who also had the same name. His uncle was a friend of the famous writer Ben Jonson, not him. To tell them apart, this William Cornwallis is sometimes called "the younger," and his uncle is called "the elder."

What Did Sir William Cornwallis Write?

Sir William Cornwallis's essays were thoughtful and calm. He wrote about many different topics, such as ambition, making decisions, youth, books, and being humble. Like the essays of Montaigne, Cornwallis's writings often focused on understanding oneself and becoming a better person.

His essays were very popular when he was alive and stayed popular until the mid-1600s. They are some of the earliest examples of essays written in English. His style followed Montaigne's way of writing, not Francis Bacon's, and his works became a guide for future English essayists.

Important Works

Here are some of his main writings:

• Essayes by Sir W. Cornewaleys: The first part came out in 1600, and the second part in 1601. A new, bigger edition was published in 1610, and another in 1632.
• Discourses upon Seneca the Tragedian: This book from 1601 was the first English book about the plays of Seneca the Younger.
• The Miraculous and Happy Union between England and Scotland: Published in 1604, this discussed the joining of England and Scotland.
• Essayes, or Rather, Encomions: This collection of essays was published in 1616.
• Essayes of Certaine Paradoxes: Also published in 1616. One essay from this book, The Encomium of Richard III, tried to defend King Richard III. This is the earliest known essay that tried to do so.

He also wrote some poems, including a letter in verse to his friend John Donne.