John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington of Exton
Encyclopedia
John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington of Exton (1572 – 27 February 1614, Kew
) was an English peer
and politician. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
and Baron Harington of Exton
.
He was educated with the Prince of Wales
and they remained close friends until the prince's death. He was admitted to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
in 1607. He succeeded his father as Baron in August 1613.
and his wife Anne Kelway, born at Combe Abbey, near Coventry
, Warwickshire
, in April 1592. He was reputed a scholar at the University of Cambridge
; he entered Sidney Sussex College for a time, which had been founded by Lady Frances Sidney, his mother's relative, and to which he and his father were benefactors.
. While abroad he corresponded in French and Latin with Henry. After seven weeks in the Low Countries, where he visited the universities, courts of three princes, and military fortifications, Harington went to Italy in 1608. He wrote from Venice
(28 May 1609) announcing his intention of returning through France to spend the rest of his life with his royal friend. Henry's death (6 January 1613) greatly grieved him.
on 27 February 1614, and was buried at Exton
.
On 18 February he had sold the lordship of Exton to Sir Braxton Hicks, and by his will, made at the same time, left the overplus of the estates, after the creditors had been paid (according to his mother the debts amounted to £40,000), to his two sisters, two-thirds to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and one-third to Lady Chichester. The Countess of Bedford eventually sold the remaining family estates in Rutlandshire.
, pastor of All Hallows, Bread Street, entitled ‘The Church's Lament for the Loss of the Godly,’ London, 1614, with a small woodprint portrait. The other, by T. P. of Sidney Sussex College, contains an epitaph and elegies by F. Herring and Sir Thomas Roe. At the same time a poem entitled ‘Sorrows Lenitive, written upon occasion of the death of that hopeful and noble young gentleman,’ &c., was written by Abraham Jackson, and dedicated to Harington's mother and sister Lucy. John Donne
took leave of poetry in a funeral ode on Harington (published after his death in the volume of Poems, London, 1633), and Thomas Gataker
, in his ‘Discours Apologetical,’ London, 1654, p. 36, styles him a ‘mirror of nobility.’ A portrait is in Henry Holland
's Herωologia.
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
) was an English peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and politician. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland. The post was abolished on 31 March 1974, with the area coming under the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, but revived in 1997...
and Baron Harington of Exton
Baron Harington of Exton
Baron Harington of Exton was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created for John Harington on 21 July 1603. It became extinct on the death of his son in 1614.-Barons Harington of Exton :*John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton Baron Harington of Exton was a title in the Peerage of...
.
He was educated with the Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
and they remained close friends until the prince's death. He was admitted to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
in 1607. He succeeded his father as Baron in August 1613.
Early life
He was the surviving son of John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of ExtonJohn Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton
John Harington was an English courtier and politician.-Life:He was the son of James Harington and was knighted in 1584...
and his wife Anne Kelway, born at Combe Abbey, near Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, in April 1592. He was reputed a scholar at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
; he entered Sidney Sussex College for a time, which had been founded by Lady Frances Sidney, his mother's relative, and to which he and his father were benefactors.
On tour
Friend and companion of Henry, Prince of Wales, on 5 January 1604 he was created with the Duke of York and others a Knight of the Bath. In September he went a foreign tour with John Tovey, an a master of the free school at GuildfordGuildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. While abroad he corresponded in French and Latin with Henry. After seven weeks in the Low Countries, where he visited the universities, courts of three princes, and military fortifications, Harington went to Italy in 1608. He wrote from Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
(28 May 1609) announcing his intention of returning through France to spend the rest of his life with his royal friend. Henry's death (6 January 1613) greatly grieved him.
Baron
He succeeded to his father's title and a heritage of debts in August 1613, and he vainly attempted to retrieve the family fortunes. He died at KewKew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
on 27 February 1614, and was buried at Exton
Exton
Exton is the name of a number of settlements:In the United Kingdom:* Exton, Somerset * Exton, Devon* Exton, Hampshire* Exton, Rutland* a fictional New Town in BBC Radio 2's Mrs Dale's Diaryin the United States:* Exton, Pennsylvania...
.
On 18 February he had sold the lordship of Exton to Sir Braxton Hicks, and by his will, made at the same time, left the overplus of the estates, after the creditors had been paid (according to his mother the debts amounted to £40,000), to his two sisters, two-thirds to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and one-third to Lady Chichester. The Countess of Bedford eventually sold the remaining family estates in Rutlandshire.
Reputation
Harington's contemporaries wrote of him in the highest terms. Two sermons were published on his death, one preached at the funeral by Richard StockRichard Stock
Richard Stock was an English clergyman and one of the Puritan founders of the Feoffees for Impropriations. He was minister at All Hallows, Bread Street in London, from 1611 to 1626.-Life:...
, pastor of All Hallows, Bread Street, entitled ‘The Church's Lament for the Loss of the Godly,’ London, 1614, with a small woodprint portrait. The other, by T. P. of Sidney Sussex College, contains an epitaph and elegies by F. Herring and Sir Thomas Roe. At the same time a poem entitled ‘Sorrows Lenitive, written upon occasion of the death of that hopeful and noble young gentleman,’ &c., was written by Abraham Jackson, and dedicated to Harington's mother and sister Lucy. John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
took leave of poetry in a funeral ode on Harington (published after his death in the volume of Poems, London, 1633), and Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker
Thomas Gataker was an English clergyman and theologian.-Life:He was born in London and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. From 1601 to 1611 he held the appointment of preacher to the society of Lincoln's Inn, which he resigned on accepting the rectory of Rotherhithe...
, in his ‘Discours Apologetical,’ London, 1654, p. 36, styles him a ‘mirror of nobility.’ A portrait is in Henry Holland
Henry Holland (printer)
-Life:The son of Philemon Holland, was born at Coventry on 29 September 1583. He came to London as a youth, and usually designated himself ‘Londonopolitanus.’ He was made free of the Stationers' Company 5 December 1608....
's Herωologia.