William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke

William Herbert, 1st earl of Pembroke was born c. 1506

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His father, Sir Richard Herbert, was an illegitimate son of William, the 1st Earl of Pembroke of the first creation. Sir William's first wife, Anne Parr, was a sister of Catherine Parr, who married Henry VIII.

Related Topics:
Sir Richard Herbert - Anne Parr - Catherine Parr - VIII

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Herbert rose with the Parrs after his sister-in-law's marriage and was knighted in 1543. He had been granted Wilton Abbey and other land by Henry VIII by 1544. He pulled down the abbey, and built the first Wilton House in the 1540s. Herbert was a guardian of the young Edward VI after the death of Henry VIII in 1547. He was made a knight of the garter in 1549, and created Baron Herbert of Cardiff on 10 Oct 1551, then on the following day as 1st Earl of Pembroke by Edward VI. His wife Anne died 20 Feb 1552,and later that year Herbert married Anne, daughter of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, and widow of Peter Compton (d. 30 Jan 1544).

Related Topics:
Wilton Abbey - Wilton House - Edward VI - George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury

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Herbert married his son, Henry Herbert to Lady Catherine Grey in May 1553 while John Dudley married his son, Guilford Dudley to Lady Jane Grey. Herbert initially supported Jane Grey's claim to the throne, however when it became clear that Mary I would take the throne he cast Catherine out of his house and had the marriage annulled. He managed to distance himself from Grey family after their fall and obtained the new queen's favour by crushing Wyatt's rebellion.

Related Topics:
Henry Herbert - Lady Catherine Grey - John Dudley - Guilford Dudley - Lady Jane Grey - Mary I

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William died on March 17, 1570, in Hampton Court

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