Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland

For other people named Henry Clifford, see Henry Clifford (disambiguation).

Sir Henry Clifford, 11th Baron de Clifford, also 11th Lord of Skipton, created 1st Earl of Cumberland, KG (1493 – 22 April 1542) was a member of the Clifford family which held the seat of Skipton from 1310 to 1676. He was a close friend of Henry VIII and his son Henry married the King's niece Lady Eleanor Brandon. He was created Earl of Cumberland on June 18, 1525 and made a Knight of the Garter in 1537 . He was also made Lord Warden of the West Marches and Governor of Carlisle Castle.

Family

He was born at Skipton Castle, a son of Henry Clifford, 10th Baron de Clifford and his wife Anne St John. His maternal grandparents were Sir John Oliver St John, of Bletso and Sibyl ap Morgan.

He married first Margaret Talbot, daughter of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and Anne Hastings. Her maternal grandparents were William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings and Katherine Neville. Katherine was a daughter of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury and Alice Neville, 5th Countess of Salisbury.

His first wife died before 1516. He married secondly Margaret Percy, daughter of Henry Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland and Catherine Spencer. Her maternal grandparents were Sir Robert Spencer of Spencer Court and Lady Eleanor Beaufort. Eleanor was a daughter of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and Eleanor Beauchamp.

They were parents to seven children, including his heir, Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland.

References

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Clifford family tree

External links

• A listing of the Clifford family