Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex
Encyclopedia
Henry Bourchier, 5th Baron Bourchier, 1st Viscount Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex, KG
(c. 1404/c. 1406 – 4 April 1483), was the eldest son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu and Anne of Gloucester
. He was a matrilineal great-grandson of Edward III of England
.
from his cousin Elizabeth Bourchier, 4th Baroness Bourchier on her death in 1433. He became the 1st Viscount Bourchier in 1446, a Knight
of the Order of the Garter
in 1452, and was created 1st Earl of Essex
in 1461.
from 29 May 1455 - 5 October 1456, 28 July 1460 - 14 April 1462, and 22 April 1471 - 4 April 1483. He also became Justice in Eyre
south of the Trent in 1461, holding that title until his death.
, which made her the aunt of Richard's two sons, the future Edward IV
and Richard III
.
Henry and Isabel were parents to at least eleven children.
On his death she did not remarry and died more than a year later.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(c. 1404/c. 1406 – 4 April 1483), was the eldest son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu and Anne of Gloucester
Anne of Gloucester
Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Stafford was the eldest daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor de Bohun.-Family:...
. He was a matrilineal great-grandson of Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
.
Titles
He inherited the title of 5th Baron BourchierBaron Bourchier
The title Baron Bourchier is an abeyant peerage which was created in the Peerage of England in 1342 for Sir Robert Bourchier, who had been Lord High Chancellor from 1340–41....
from his cousin Elizabeth Bourchier, 4th Baroness Bourchier on her death in 1433. He became the 1st Viscount Bourchier in 1446, a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
in 1452, and was created 1st Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
in 1461.
Career
He held the post of Lord High TreasurerLord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
from 29 May 1455 - 5 October 1456, 28 July 1460 - 14 April 1462, and 22 April 1471 - 4 April 1483. He also became Justice in Eyre
Justice in Eyre
In English law, the Justices in Eyre were the highest magistrates in forest law, and presided over the court of justice-seat, a triennial court held to punish offenders against the forest law and enquire into the state of the forest and its officers...
south of the Trent in 1461, holding that title until his death.
Marriage and issue
Prior to 1426, he married Isabel of Cambridge, another descendant of Edward III. She was the elder sister of Richard PlantagenetRichard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Richard Plantagenêt, 3rd Duke of York, 6th Earl of March, 4th Earl of Cambridge, and 7th Earl of Ulster, conventionally called Richard of York was a leading English magnate, great-grandson of King Edward III...
, which made her the aunt of Richard's two sons, the future Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
.
Henry and Isabel were parents to at least eleven children.
- William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier (d. 1480). Married Anne WoodvilleAnne WoodvilleAnne Woodville, Viscountess Bourchier was an English noblewoman. She was a younger sister of Queen consort Elizabeth Woodville to whom she served as a lady-in-waiting. Anne was married twice; first to William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier, and secondly to George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent...
, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl RiversRichard Woodville, 1st Earl RiversRichard Woodville , 1st Earl Rivers, KG was an English nobleman, best remembered as the father of Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV....
and Jacquetta of LuxembourgJacquetta of LuxembourgJacquetta of Luxembourg was the elder daughter of Peter I, Count of St Pol, Conversano and Brienne and his wife Margaret de Baux...
. They were parents of Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of EssexHenry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of EssexHenry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG, PC was an English soldier, peer and courtier at the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He married Mary Say, by whom he had one daughter, Anne, who became his heir.- Family :...
and Cicely Bourchier, wife of John Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of Chartley was an English peer.-Family:He was the eldest son and heir of Anne Ferrers, 7th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by her husband and consort Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers of Chartley....
. - Henry Bourchier (d. 1462). Married Elizabeth de Scales, Baroness Scales. No known children.
- Humphrey Bourchier, 1st and last Lord Bourchier of Cromwell (d. 14 April 1471). Killed in the Battle of BarnetBattle of BarnetThe Battle of Barnet was a decisive engagement in the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic conflict of 15th-century England. The military action, along with the subsequent Battle of Tewkesbury, secured the throne for Edward IV...
. - John BourchierJohn Bourchier (died 1495)Sir John Bourchier was a 15th century English knight and nobleman.He was the 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby by virtue of the fact that his wife Elizabeth Grey was the heiress of the title. Their marriage occurred before May 1462....
(d. 1495). Married first Elizabeth Ferrers and secondly Elizabeth Chichelle. No known children. - Edward Bourchier (d. 30 December 1460). Killed in the Battle of WakefieldBattle of WakefieldThe Battle of Wakefield took place at Sandal Magna near Wakefield, in West Yorkshire in Northern England, on 30 December 1460. It was a major battle of the Wars of the Roses...
. - Thomas Bourchier (d. 1492). Married Isabella Barre. No known children.
- Florence Bourchier (d. 1525).
- Fulk Bourchier. Considered to have died young.
- Hugh Bourchier. Considered to have died young.
- Isabella Bourchier. Considered to have died young.
On his death she did not remarry and died more than a year later.