Henry Unton
Encyclopedia
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Sir Henry Unton (c. 1557 – 23 March 1596) was an Elizabethan
English
diplomat
.
Henry was the second son of Sir Edward Unton (d. 1583) of Wadley House, near Faringdon
, Berkshire
(now Oxfordshire
), his mother, Anne
(d. 1588), being a daughter of Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset
, the protector. His elder brother was Edward Unton
, on whose death he inherited his father's estates in 1569.
Educated at Oriel College, Oxford, Unton became the member of parliament
for New Woodstock in 1584. He served with the English forces in the Netherlands
in 1585 and 1586, being present at the skirmish of Zutphen
. In 1586 he was knighted by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
In 1591, through the good offices of the earl of Essex
, Unton was sent as ambassador to Henry IV of France
; he became very friendly with this king and accompanied him on a campaign in Normandy
before he was recalled to England in June 1592.
Again securing a seat in 1593 in parliament
as a knight of the shire for Berkshire
, he lost for a short time the favour of Queen Elizabeth
, but was sent that same year as ambassador to France. He died in the French camp at La Fere on the 23rd of March 1596, a collection of Latin
verses being published in his memory at Oxford later in the year. This was edited by his chaplain, Robert Wright
(1560-1643), afterwards bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
Sir Henry Unton (c. 1557 – 23 March 1596) was an Elizabethan
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Henry was the second son of Sir Edward Unton (d. 1583) of Wadley House, near Faringdon
Faringdon
Faringdon is a market town in the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. It is on the edge of the Thames Valley, between the River Thames and the Ridgeway...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(now Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
), his mother, Anne
Anne Dudley, Countess of Warwick
Anne Dudley Countess of Warwick was a writer during the sixteenth century in England, along with her sisters Lady Margaret Seymour and Lady Jane Seymour....
(d. 1588), being a daughter of Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
, the protector. His elder brother was Edward Unton
Edward Unton (captain)
Edward Unton was an English landowner and MP.He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Unton of Wadley, Berkshire and Anne, the daughter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and widow of John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick...
, on whose death he inherited his father's estates in 1569.
Educated at Oriel College, Oxford, Unton became the member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for New Woodstock in 1584. He served with the English forces in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1585 and 1586, being present at the skirmish of Zutphen
Battle of Zutphen
The Battle of Zutphen was a confrontation of the Eighty Years' War on 22 September 1586, near Zutphen , the Netherlands. It was fought between forces of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, aided by the English, against the Spanish, who sought to regain the northern Netherlands.Important...
. In 1586 he was knighted by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
In 1591, through the good offices of the earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
, Unton was sent as ambassador to Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
; he became very friendly with this king and accompanied him on a campaign in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
before he was recalled to England in June 1592.
Again securing a seat in 1593 in parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
as a knight of the shire for Berkshire
Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Berkshire was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
, he lost for a short time the favour of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, but was sent that same year as ambassador to France. He died in the French camp at La Fere on the 23rd of March 1596, a collection of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
verses being published in his memory at Oxford later in the year. This was edited by his chaplain, Robert Wright
Robert Wright (bishop)
-Life:Wright was born of humble parentage in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1560, and probably attended the refounded free school there , where preference was given to poor scholars of the borough. He matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1574 at the age of 14, was elected to a scholarship in...
(1560-1643), afterwards bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.