Francis Willoughby (1547–1596)

Sir Francis Willoughby
Portrait of Sir Francis Willoughby, 1573 by George Gower
Born	1547 Woodlands, Dorset
Died	1596 London
Buried	St Giles
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Littleton
Father	Sir Henry Willoughby
Mother	Anne Grey

Sir Francis Willoughby (1546/7–1596) was an industrialist and coalowner, who built Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire.

Francis Willoughby was the younger son of Sir Henry Willoughby (slain 27 August 1549 during Kett's Rebellion) of Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, and Anne Grey (d.1548), the daughter of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, by Margaret Wotton. He had an elder brother, Thomas (d.1559) and a sister, Margaret, who married Sir Matthew Arundell (c. 1533 – 24 December 1598) of Wardour Castle.

Francis Willoughby's father, Sir Henry Willoughby, had inherited Wollaton and other properties including 'lucrative coal pits' at the death of his uncle, Sir John Willoughby, on 10 January 1549. However, only a few months later, on 27 August 1549, Sir Henry Willoughby was slain on Mousehold Heath in the suppression of Kett's rebellion. Francis's elder brother, Thomas (d.1559), then aged eight, became the ward of their mother's brother, Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, and came to live with Dorset and his wife, Frances Brandon, at Bradgate House, while Francis, then aged two, and his sister, Margaret, were put in the care of Dorset's half-brother, George Medley, the son of Dorset's mother, Margaret Wotton, by her first husband, William Medley. Dorset's ill-fated attempt to place his eldest daughter, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne eventually cost Lady Jane, Dorset, and Dorset's brother, Lord Thomas Grey, their heads, and brought other family members under suspicion. George Medley was arrested, and imprisoned in the Tower for a time, and when he was released in May 1554 was unable any longer to care for Francis and Margaret. Dorset's widow, Frances Brandon, arranged for Francis to be sent to school, and took Margaret under her care. Their elder brother, Thomas, became the ward of Sir William Paget, and was married to Paget's daughter, Dorothy.