Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton

The Right Honourable The Earl of Northampton KG
Henry Howard, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, since 1 January 1604 and 1st Earl of Northampton since 13 March 1604
First Lord of the Treasury
In office 1612–1613
Preceded by	The Earl of Salisbury
Succeeded by	The Lord Ellesmere
Lord Privy Seal
In office 1612–1613
Preceded by	The Earl of Salisbury
Succeeded by	The Earl of Somerset
Personal details
Born	25 February 1540
Died	15 June 1614 (aged 74)
Mother	Frances de Vere
Father	Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton (25 February 1540 – 15 June 1614) was an important English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspect as a crypto-Catholic throughout his life, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered greatly. He was distinguished for learning, artistic culture and his public charities. He built Northumberland House in London and superintended the construction of the fine house of Audley End. He founded and planned several hospitals. Francis Bacon included three of his sayings in his Apophthegms, and chose him as "the learnedest councillor in the kingdom to present to the king his Advancement of Learning." After his death, it was discovered that he had been involved in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury.

He was born at Shottesham, Norfolk, on 25 February 1540, the second son of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, the poet, and of his wife, the former Lady Frances de Vere, daughter of the 15th Earl of Oxford. He was the younger brother of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, and uncle of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. On the death of his father in 1547 he and his brother and sisters were entrusted to the care of his aunt, Mary FitzRoy, Duchess of Richmond and Somerset, who employed John Foxe as their tutor. With Foxe Howard remained at Reigate, a manor belonging to the Duke of Norfolk, throughout Edward VI's reign. On Mary's accession, the children's grandfather, the Duke of Norfolk, was released from prison, and he dismissed Foxe.