British Naval Commander. The 3rd Earl of Cumberland. He became an Earl on the death of his father in 1570 and rose to prominence at court due to his prowess at jousting, which led to his being made champion to Elizabeth I and a Knight of the Garter. After taking part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, he began a naval career as a commander in the Anglo-Spanish War and fought against the Spanish Armada before later achieving great success against Spanish shipping in the Caribbean with his own ship, the "Scourge of Malice". In 1598 he captured Fort San Felipe Del Morro, Puerto Rico, but was forced to abandon the Island within a year because of civilian unrest. He is best known today for the famous portrait painted of him by the miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard and for his tournament armour, now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is considered to be the finest surviving armour of the period. Much of the fortune he earned in his naval career was lost at jousting and horse racing, and he was forced to sell much of his land in later life.
British Naval Commander. The 3rd Earl of Cumberland. He became an Earl on the death of his father in 1570 and rose to prominence at court due to his prowess at jousting, which led to his being made champion to Elizabeth I and a Knight of the Garter. After taking part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, he began a naval career as a commander in the Anglo-Spanish War and fought against the Spanish Armada before later achieving great success against Spanish shipping in the Caribbean with his own ship, the "Scourge of Malice". In 1598 he captured Fort San Felipe Del Morro, Puerto Rico, but was forced to abandon the Island within a year because of civilian unrest. He is best known today for the famous portrait painted of him by the miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard and for his tournament armour, now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is considered to be the finest surviving armour of the period. Much of the fortune he earned in his naval career was lost at jousting and horse racing, and he was forced to sell much of his land in later life.
Bio by: js
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Clifford memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
