George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon
Encyclopedia
George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon KG (1547 – 9 September 1603) was the eldest son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon
and Anne Morgan
. His father was first cousin to Elizabeth I of England
.
In 1560, at the age of 13, George matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
. In 1566 he accompanied the Earl of Bedford
on an official mission to Scotland, to attend the baptism of the future King James VI
.
During the Northern Rebellion of 1569, George was knighted in the field by the Earl of Sussex
for bravery. George had challenged Lord Fleming, the commander of Dunbar Castle
, to single combat.
George served as a member of Parliament in the Commons for several terms (for Hertfordshire
in 1571, for Hampshire
in 1584, 1586, 1588–1589, 1592).
George was sent to Carisbrooke Castle
on the Isle of Wight
and later assumed command of the Isle's defenses during the Spanish Armada
threat.
In July 1596, when his father died, George became the second Baron Hunsdon, and the following year he was appointed Lord Chamberlain
, a position which had been held by his father.
Both Henry and George Carey were patrons of the professional theatre company in London known as "the Lord Chamberlain's Men
". Talents such as William Shakespeare
and Richard Burbage
were among the writers and performers of the company. In 1597 George was invested as a Knight of the Garter, and it is generally agreed that the first performance of William Shakespeare
's Merry Wives of Windsor was held to commemorate the occasion.
George married Elizabeth Spencer
(related to poet/author Edmund Spenser
), who like her husband was a patron of the arts. They had one daughter, Elizabeth
.
He died on 9 September 1603 (from venereal disease and mercury
poisoning), and his brother John
(the next eldest) became the third Lord Hunsdon.
Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon
Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, of Hunsdon was an English nobleman.He was the son of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn and also the mistress to King Henry VIII of England...
and Anne Morgan
Anne Morgan, Baroness Hunsdon
Anne Morgan, Baroness Hunsdon was the wife of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, by whom she had a total of 12 children. On 14 December 1595, she was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I of England to the office of Keeper of Somerset House; a post which she held for life...
. His father was first cousin to Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
.
In 1560, at the age of 13, George matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In 1566 he accompanied the Earl of Bedford
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, KG was an English nobleman, soldier and politician and godfather to Sir. Francis Drake.-Early life:...
on an official mission to Scotland, to attend the baptism of the future King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
.
During the Northern Rebellion of 1569, George was knighted in the field by the Earl of Sussex
Earl of Sussex
Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel were often also called Earls of Sussex....
for bravery. George had challenged Lord Fleming, the commander of Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
, to single combat.
George served as a member of Parliament in the Commons for several terms (for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in 1571, for Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in 1584, 1586, 1588–1589, 1592).
George was sent to Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.-Early history:...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and later assumed command of the Isle's defenses during the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
threat.
In July 1596, when his father died, George became the second Baron Hunsdon, and the following year he was appointed Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
, a position which had been held by his father.
Both Henry and George Carey were patrons of the professional theatre company in London known as "the Lord Chamberlain's Men
Lord Chamberlain's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men was a playing company for whom Shakespeare worked for most of his career. Formed at the end of a period of flux in the theatrical world of London, it had become, by 1603, one of the two leading companies of the city and was subsequently patronised by James I.It was...
". Talents such as William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
and Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage was an English actor and theatre owner. He was the younger brother of Cuthbert Burbage. They were both actors in drama....
were among the writers and performers of the company. In 1597 George was invested as a Knight of the Garter, and it is generally agreed that the first performance of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Merry Wives of Windsor was held to commemorate the occasion.
George married Elizabeth Spencer
Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon
Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon was an aristocratic English woman, a scholar, and a patron of the arts. She was the inspiration for Edmund Spencer's Muiopotmos, was commemorated in one of the poet's dedicatory sonnets to the Faerie Queene, and was represented as "Phyllis" in the latter's...
(related to poet/author Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
), who like her husband was a patron of the arts. They had one daughter, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Carey, Lady Berkeley
Hon. Elizabeth Carey was an English noblewoman and a patron of the arts. Thomas Nashe dedicated his Terrors of the Night to her in 1594...
.
He died on 9 September 1603 (from venereal disease and mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
poisoning), and his brother John
John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon
John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon was an English peer, politician and Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed.He was born the son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and was the younger brother of George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon and the grandson of Mary Boleyn. It is alleged that his father was the illegitimate...
(the next eldest) became the third Lord Hunsdon.