Biography of Robert Dudley 1574-1649

On 7th August 1574 Robert Dudley was born illegitimately to [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 42) and [his mother] Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 32) at Richmond Palace [Map].

On 23rd July 1577 Thomas Wenman (age 29) died. He left significant debts to the Crown requiring some of his lands to be sold. Eaton, Berkshire was sold to John Danvers (age 37) for £7700. Richard Wenman 1st Viscount Wenman (age 4) was made a ward of his mother Jane West (age 19) and [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 45). Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester sold his interest to James Cressy who subsequently married Jane West.

On 21st September 1578 [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 46) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester (age 34) were married secretly much to the anguish of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 45) who developed a deep hatred of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. Roger North 2nd Baron North (age 48) was present. He the son of [his grandfather] John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and [his grandmother] Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland. They were fifth cousins.

Before 13th November 1581 [his half-brother] Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 15) and [his sister-in-law] Ursula Tyrwhitt (age 41) were married. She by marriage Baroness Sheffield of Butterwick in Lincolnshire. The difference in their ages was 25 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

On 4th September 1588 [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 56) died at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. He was buried at Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick [Map]. Earl of Leicester extinct.

Around 1590 Unknown Painter. Probably Robert Dudley (age 15).

Around 1591 Robert Dudley (age 16) and Margaret Cavendish (age 21) were married. He the illegitmate son of Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester and Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 49).

In 1596 Robert Dudley (age 22) and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 18) were married. He the illegitmate son of Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester and Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 54).

On or before 25th September 1597, the date she was baptised at Kenilworth, [his daughter] Alicia Douglassia Dudley was born to Robert Dudley (age 23) and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 19).

On 29th November 1597 Edward Stafford (age 45) and [his mother] Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 55) were married. They were fourth cousins.

In 1605 Robert Dudley (age 30) took a case for his legitimacy to the Star Chamber supported by his mother [his mother] Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 63) who claimed she and [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester had been married in secret. The Star Chamber found against him after which he left the country.

In 1606 Robert Dudley (age 31) and Elizabeth Southwell (age 22) were married at Lyon, France [Map]. Bigamous in his case since his second wife Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 28) was alive. She the daughter of Robert Southwell and Elizabeth Howard Countess Carrick (age 41). He the illegitmate son of Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester and Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 64). They were first cousin once removed.

In 1608 [his mother] Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 66) died.

Calendar of State Papers James I 1608. Feb. 11. [1608] London. 26. John Chamberlain to Dud. Carleton. Domestic affairs. Tobie Matthew ordered to depart the realm. Harry Constable (age 46) and Rich. Carey committed to prison. A marriage and masque at Court, and presents to the bride [Lady Eliz. Ratcliffe]. The King gave them a pension of £600 a year, and wished the bridegroom [Visct. Haddington (age 28)] as much happiness as he himself had, the day he delivered him from the Gowrie conspiracy. Progress of the treaty of peace between Flanders and Holland. The Pope has commanded Sir Rob. Dudley (age 33) to forsake his mistress (age 24), &c.

In or before 1611 [his son-in-law] Gilbert Kniveton 2nd Baronet (age 28) and [his daughter] Frances Dudley were married. She the daughter of Robert Dudley (age 36) and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 32).

On 4th March 1619 [his half-brother] Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 53) and [his sister-in-law] Mariana Irwin Countess Mulgrave were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. She by marriage Baroness Sheffield of Butterwick in Lincolnshire.

In May 1621 [his daughter] Alicia Douglassia Dudley (age 23) died.

In 1626 [his half-brother] Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 60) was created 1st Earl Mulgrave. [his sister-in-law] Mariana Irwin Countess Mulgrave by marriage Countess Mulgrave.

On 23rd July 1629 [his son-in-law] Richard Leveson (age 31) and [his daughter] Catherine Dudley were married. She the daughter of Robert Dudley (age 54) and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 51).

On 25th December 1634 Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester (age 91) died. She was buried at the Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick [Map] with her husband [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester - see Monument [Map] and Inscription [Map].

On 23rd May 1644 Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley (age 66) was created 1st Duchess Dudley by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 43) for life. Her husband Robert Dudley (age 69) had claimed to be the legitimate son of [his uncle] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester but the Star Chamber found against him. King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland disagreed with their verdict and, in compensation of her subsequent treatment, awarded her the Dukedom... See Patent of Creation.

In October 1646 [his half-brother] Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 80) died. His grandson Edmund (age 34) succeeded 2nd Earl Mulgrave, 4th Baron Sheffield of Butterwick in Lincolnshire.

On 6th September 1649 Robert Dudley (age 75) died at Villa Rinieri. He was buried at San Pancrazio.

Life of Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland by John Temple Leader. M.P. forBridgwater from 1835 to 1837, and for Westmimster from 1837 to 1847, Knight Comander of the Order of the Crown of Italy. Illustrated with Letters and Documents from original sources, collected by the Author, and hitherto inedited. Florence. Printed By G. Barbera. 1895.

[his daughter] Catherine Dudley was born to Robert Dudley and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley. She married 23rd July 1629 Richard Leveson.

[his daughter] Anne Dudley was born to Robert Dudley and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley. She married before 1663 Robert Holborne.

[his daughter] Frances Dudley was born to Robert Dudley and Alice Leigh 1st Duchess Dudley. She married in or before 1611 Gilbert Kniveton 2nd Baronet, son of William Kniveton 1st Baronet, and had issue.