Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk
Encyclopedia
Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk (15 March 1746 – 16 December 1815), styled Earl of Surrey from 1777 to 1786, was a British peer, the son of Charles Howard, 10th Duke of Norfolk
and Catherine Brockholes.
He was known for actively participating in the Whig
party as part of the opposition to King George III. Surrey succeeded to the title of 11th Duke of Norfolk in 1786 upon the death of his father. He spent a considerable amount of his money rebuilding and refurbishing Arundel Castle
after inheriting his title and lands.
He married, firstly, Marion Coppinger (daughter of John Coppinger), on 1 August 1767, who died a year later giving birth. He married, secondly, Frances Scudamore (1750–1820), the only child of Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
on 6 April 1771 at London, England. Frances soon became insane after her marriage and was locked away until her death in 1820. Howard then lived with several mistresses. His longtime mistress, Mary Ann Gibbon
(a cousin of Edward Gibbon
), was reputed to be his secret third wife and she had five children by him, including two sons who were officers of arms
, Matthew Howard-Gibbon
, and Edward Howard-Gibbon
. An older illegitimate son by a previous mistress, Sir William Woods
later became Garter King of Arms.
Norfolk renounced his Catholicism
to start his political life, and remained a staunch supporter of Catholic Emancipation
, opposing the war with the American colonies
. Norfolk was a good friend of Sir Bysshe Shelley
, allowing him in 1786 to make out the patent for his baronetcy. Shelley was influenced by Norfolk and built the flamboyant Castle Goring
, one side of which was a partial copy of Norfolk's residence of Arundel Castle.
Norfolk died on 16 December 1815 at age 69, without issue from either of his two legal marriages. Upon his death, his lands and titles passed to his cousin, Bernard.
Charles Howard, 10th Duke of Norfolk
Charles Howard, 10th Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal , the son of Henry Charles Howard and Mary Aylward . He married Catherine Brockholes , daughter of John Brockholes, on 8 November 1739...
and Catherine Brockholes.
He was known for actively participating in the Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
party as part of the opposition to King George III. Surrey succeeded to the title of 11th Duke of Norfolk in 1786 upon the death of his father. He spent a considerable amount of his money rebuilding and refurbishing Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror...
after inheriting his title and lands.
He married, firstly, Marion Coppinger (daughter of John Coppinger), on 1 August 1767, who died a year later giving birth. He married, secondly, Frances Scudamore (1750–1820), the only child of Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore
Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore was a British politician.Born Charles FitzRoy, he was the illegitimate son of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton. Fitzroy married Frances Scudamore after her divorce from Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort in 1744...
on 6 April 1771 at London, England. Frances soon became insane after her marriage and was locked away until her death in 1820. Howard then lived with several mistresses. His longtime mistress, Mary Ann Gibbon
Mary Ann Gibbon
Mary Ann Gibbon was the long-term mistress of Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk from approximately 1795 until his death in 1815. She was purportedly married to him by a Catholic priest about 1796, while the Duke's second wife was still living but residing in an insane asylum since 1772.Gibbon...
(a cousin of Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon was an English historian and Member of Parliament...
), was reputed to be his secret third wife and she had five children by him, including two sons who were officers of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
, Matthew Howard-Gibbon
Matthew Howard-Gibbon
Matthew Charles Howard-Gibbon was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was born Matthew Charles Howard Gibbon in London, and was the oldest son of Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk and Mary Ann Gibbon–his long-time mistress and purportedly his third wife...
, and Edward Howard-Gibbon
Edward Howard-Gibbon
Edward Howard Howard-Gibbon was an English surgeon, lawyer, and officer of arms. He was born Edward Howard Gibbon in London and was the second son of the Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk and Mary Ann Gibbon—the Duke's long time mistress.Edward received a formal education, became a...
. An older illegitimate son by a previous mistress, Sir William Woods
William Woods (officer of arms)
Sir William Woods was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was said to be an illegitimate son of the Duke of Norfolk and was appointed to the post of Clarenceux King of Arms in 1831...
later became Garter King of Arms.
Norfolk renounced his Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
to start his political life, and remained a staunch supporter of Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
, opposing the war with the American colonies
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Norfolk was a good friend of Sir Bysshe Shelley
Sir Bysshe Shelley, 1st Baronet
Sir Bysshe Shelley, 1st Baronet of Castle Goring was the grandfather of Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.-Life:...
, allowing him in 1786 to make out the patent for his baronetcy. Shelley was influenced by Norfolk and built the flamboyant Castle Goring
Castle Goring
Castle Goring is a grade one listed country house in Worthing, in Sussex, England.The building to some extent defies categorisation, being neither fully a castle, nor is it fully in Goring. The word is often used for English country houses constructed after the castle-building era and not...
, one side of which was a partial copy of Norfolk's residence of Arundel Castle.
Norfolk died on 16 December 1815 at age 69, without issue from either of his two legal marriages. Upon his death, his lands and titles passed to his cousin, Bernard.
See also
- Dukes of Norfolk family treeDukes of Norfolk family treeThe following chart is a family tree of the Dukes of Norfolk, who were members of the Plantagenet, Mowbray and Howard families. It shows how every Duke of Norfolk was a descendant of King Edward I of England....