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He was popular with Henry VIII, and at Anne Boleyn's coronation was deputy earl marshal; and he was sent on missions to Scotland and France; but in 1541 he was charged with abetting his relative, Henry's fourth queen, Catherine Howard, in committing adultery, and was convicted of misprision of treason, but pardoned.
In 1552 he was made governor of Calais, and in 1553 lord high admiral, being created Baron Howard of Effingham in 1554 for his defence of London in Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion against Queen Mary. He befriended the princess Elizabeth, but his popularity with the navy saved him from Mary's resentment; and when Elizabeth became queen he had great influence with her and filled several important posts.
His son, the second baron, who is famous in English naval history, was created Earl of NottinghamEarl of Nottingham is a title in the peerage of England, created in 1681 for Heneage Finch, who had served as Lord Chancellor. The first Earl's eldest son Daniel Finch succeeded him as the second Earl. When John Finch, 6th Earl of Winchilsea died in 1729,; and from a younger son the later earls of Effingham were descended. His daughter was named Douglas and was born in 1545, the widow of John Sheffield, she married Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of LeicesterRobert Dudley Earl of Leicester, circa 1532 1588) was the long-standing favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England and almost became her husband. Dudley was born around 1532, a younger son of the Duke of Northumberland, who was executed in 1553 for his par, in 1573. Leicester, the favourite of Queen Elizabeth, concealed the marriage to accommodate his position at the court.
William's descendant, Francis (d. 5695), inherited the barony of Howard of Effingham on the death of his cousin, Charles, in 1681; and Francis's son, Francis (1683-1743), was created earl of Effingham in 1735. This earldom became extinct on the death of Richard, the fourth holder, in 1816; but it was created again in 1837 in favor of Kenneth Alexander (1767-1845), another of William Howard's descendants, who had succeeded to the barony of Howard of Effingham in 1816.
| Preceded by: Sir William CecilWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley ( 1520- 1598), was an English politician, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I of England for most of her reign. Cecil was born in Bourne, England in 1520, the son of Richard Cecil, 1st Baron Cecil (owner of the Burghle | Lord Privy SealThe Lord Privy Seal or Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is one of the traditional sinecure offices in the British Cabinet. Originally, its holder was responsible for the monarch's personal ("privy") seal (as opposed to the Great Seal of state, which is in th 1572–1573 | Followed by: Sir Thomas SmithSir Thomas Smith ( December 23, 1513 August 12, 1577), was an English scholar and diplomat. He was born at Saffron Walden in Essex. He became a fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1530, and in 1533 was appointed a public reader or professor. He lectu |