Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
| The Earl of Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Spouse(s) | Lady Dorothy Devereux |
| Issue | |
| Noble family | Percy |
| Father | Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland |
| Mother | Katherine Neville |
| Born | 27 April 1564 Tynemouth Castle, England |
| Died | 5 November 1632 (aged 68) Petworth House, England |
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland KG (27 April 1564 – 5 November 1632) was an English nobleman. He was a grandee and one of the wealthiest peers of the court of Elizabeth I. Under James I, Northumberland was a long-term prisoner in the Tower of London. He is known for the circles he moved in as well as for his own achievements. He acquired the sobriquet The Wizard Earl (also given to Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare), from his scientific and alchemical experiments, his passion for cartography, and his large library. His mild deafness and slight speech impediment did not prevent him from becoming an important intellectual and cultural figure of his generation.
He was born at Tynemouth Castle in Northumberland, England, the son of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, whom he succeeded in 1585. His father died, an apparent suicide, in the Tower of London, where he was being questioned about his allegedly treasonable dealings with Mary Queen of Scots. His mother was Katherine Neville, daughter and co-heiress of John Neville, 4th Baron Latimer. She remarried Francis Fitton.
He was brought up a Protestant, as his father had been, taking instruction from the vicar of Egremont. This did not prevent suspicions in later life, particularly when he associated with Charles Paget, that he was a crypto-Catholic. Around 1586, he first employed the artist Nicolas Hilliard paying 60 shillings for his portrait.
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