Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset
Encyclopedia
Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset (1561–1609) was an English aristocrat and politician, with humanist and commercial interests.
, by Cecily, daughter of Sir John Baker
. His grandfather, Sir Richard Sackville
, invited Roger Ascham
to educate Robert with his own son, an incident inn 1563 that Ascham introduced into his pedagogic work The Scholemaster (1570) as prompting the book. He matriculated from Hart Hall, Oxford, 17 December 1576, and graduated B.A. and M.A. on 3 June 1579; it appears from his father's will that he was also at New College
.
He was admitted to the Inner Temple
in 1580 but not called to the bar, and was elected to the House of Commons in 1585 as member for Sussex
, aged 23, by his father's influence. In 1588 he sat for Lewes
, but represented the county again in 1592–3, 1597–8, 1601, and 1604–8. He was a prominent member of the Commons, serving as a chairman of several committees. At the same time he engaged in trading ventures, and held a patent for the supply of ordnance.
He succeeded to the earldom of Dorset on the death of his father on 19 April 1608. He inherited from his father manors in Sussex, Essex, Kent, and Middlesex, the principal seats being Knole and Buckhurst. Dorset survived his father less than a year, dying on 27 February 1609 at Dorset House, Fleet Street
, London. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel at Withyham
, Sussex, and left money for the building and endowment of Sackville College
.
, then suspected as a crypto-Catholic. By her he had six children, including:
Lady Margaret, in fact a devout Catholic, died on 19 August 1591; Robert Southwell, who never met her, published in her honour, in 1596, Triumphs over Death, with dedicatory verses to her surviving children.
Dorset married, secondly, on 4 December 1592, Anne (d. 22 September 1618), daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorp, and widow of, first, William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle, and, secondly, Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton
. In 1608–9 Dorset found reason to complain of his second wife's misconduct, and was negotiating with Archbishop Richard Bancroft
and Lord Ellesmere for a separation from her when he died.
Life
He was the eldest son of Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of DorsetThomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset
Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset was an English statesman, poet, dramatist and Freemason. He was the son of Richard Sackville, a cousin to Anne Boleyn. He was a Member of Parliament and Lord High Treasurer.-Biography:...
, by Cecily, daughter of Sir John Baker
John Baker (English statesman)
Sir John Baker was an English politician, and served as a Chancellor of the Exchequer, having previously been Speaker of the House of Commons of England.-Early life:...
. His grandfather, Sir Richard Sackville
Richard Sackville (escheator)
Sir Richard Sackville of Ashburnham and Buckhurst in Sussex and Westenhanger in Kent; was an English administrator and Member of Parliament.-Career:...
, invited Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his promotion of the vernacular, and his theories of education...
to educate Robert with his own son, an incident inn 1563 that Ascham introduced into his pedagogic work The Scholemaster (1570) as prompting the book. He matriculated from Hart Hall, Oxford, 17 December 1576, and graduated B.A. and M.A. on 3 June 1579; it appears from his father's will that he was also at New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
.
He was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1580 but not called to the bar, and was elected to the House of Commons in 1585 as member for Sussex
Sussex (UK Parliament constituency)
Sussex was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, aged 23, by his father's influence. In 1588 he sat for Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
, but represented the county again in 1592–3, 1597–8, 1601, and 1604–8. He was a prominent member of the Commons, serving as a chairman of several committees. At the same time he engaged in trading ventures, and held a patent for the supply of ordnance.
He succeeded to the earldom of Dorset on the death of his father on 19 April 1608. He inherited from his father manors in Sussex, Essex, Kent, and Middlesex, the principal seats being Knole and Buckhurst. Dorset survived his father less than a year, dying on 27 February 1609 at Dorset House, Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, London. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel at Withyham
Withyham
Withyham is a village and large civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The village is situated 10 miles south west of Tunbridge Wells and 3.5 miles from Crowborough; the parish covers approximately .-Geography:Withyham parish lies on the edge of Weald, in the...
, Sussex, and left money for the building and endowment of Sackville College
Sackville College
Sackville College is a Jacobean almshouse in town of East Grinstead, West Sussex, England.It was founded in 1609 with money left by Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset...
.
Family
Dorset married first, in February 1580, Lady Margaret, only daughter of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal was an English nobleman.Norfolk was the son of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was taught as a child by John Foxe, the Protestant martyrologist, who remained a lifelong recipient of Norfolk's patronage...
, then suspected as a crypto-Catholic. By her he had six children, including:
- RichardRichard Sackville, 3rd Earl of DorsetRichard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset was the son of Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset....
who became third earl; - EdwardEdward Sackville, 4th Earl of DorsetEdward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset KG was the son of Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset and the brother and heir of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset.-Life:...
, fourth earl; - Anne, married Sir Edward Seymour, eldest son of Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp,
- Cecily, married Sir Henry ComptonHenry Compton (MP)Sir Henry Compton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1601 and 1640.Compton was the son of Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton of Warwickwickshire and his second wife Anne Spencer, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorp, Northamptonshire. He matriculated at...
, K.B.
Lady Margaret, in fact a devout Catholic, died on 19 August 1591; Robert Southwell, who never met her, published in her honour, in 1596, Triumphs over Death, with dedicatory verses to her surviving children.
Dorset married, secondly, on 4 December 1592, Anne (d. 22 September 1618), daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorp, and widow of, first, William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle, and, secondly, Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton
Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton
Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton was an English peer.Compton was the son of Peter Compton and his wife Anne, daughter of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, and a relative of Sir William Compton. In 1572 he was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Compton, of Compton in the County of Warwick...
. In 1608–9 Dorset found reason to complain of his second wife's misconduct, and was negotiating with Archbishop Richard Bancroft
Richard Bancroft
Archbishop Richard Bancroft, DD, BD, MA, BA was an English churchman, who became Archbishop of Canterbury and the "chief overseer" of the production of the authorized version of the Bible.-Life:...
and Lord Ellesmere for a separation from her when he died.