Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, also commonly called the "Wizard Earl" on account of his fascination with science, was born at Tynemouth Castle in April 1564. He was the eldest son of Henry, 8th Earl of Northumberland, and Katherine Neville, daughter of Lord Latimer.
Despite his family's disgrace - his father was found dead in the Tower of London, officially recorded as suicide but possibly murdered; and his uncle, Thomas, 7th Earl of Northumberland, was executed for leading the Rising of the North - he was favoured by Queen Elizabeth I, who created him a Knight of the Garter in 1593. He converted to Protestantism - a prudent move in light of his family history.
Northumberland was fascinated by science, gardening and agriculture. At Alnwick and Petworth, he accumulated a library still in existence. In 1594, he married Lady Dorothy Perrot, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys. Their children included the courtier Lucy, later Countess of Carlisle, a prominent courtier; and Henry, Baron Percy of Alnwick.
Despite currying favour with the new king, James I, in 1603 he offended the new king by spitting in the face of his old enemy, Francis Vere. Among Percy's friends were Thomas Percy, his cousin and estate manager. On 4 November 1605, the day before Thomas was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot, the pair dined together at Syon. The Earl claimed he had no knowledge of the plot, and that their meeting the day before was a discussion of estate business, but he failed to convince the council. He was sent to the Tower of London on 27 November, and charged with contempt the following June. He remained there for seventeen years; among his cellmates was Sir Walter Ralegh, with whom he developed a close friendship. Among his visitors was his wife, the Countess, who was deeply devoted, and whose death in 1619 greatly affected the Earl.
Released in 1621, he retired to Petworth, London and Bath; he died at Petworth on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, 5 November 1632, and buried there within 24 hours of his death.
Despite his family's disgrace - his father was found dead in the Tower of London, officially recorded as suicide but possibly murdered; and his uncle, Thomas, 7th Earl of Northumberland, was executed for leading the Rising of the North - he was favoured by Queen Elizabeth I, who created him a Knight of the Garter in 1593. He converted to Protestantism - a prudent move in light of his family history.
Northumberland was fascinated by science, gardening and agriculture. At Alnwick and Petworth, he accumulated a library still in existence. In 1594, he married Lady Dorothy Perrot, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys. Their children included the courtier Lucy, later Countess of Carlisle, a prominent courtier; and Henry, Baron Percy of Alnwick.
Despite currying favour with the new king, James I, in 1603 he offended the new king by spitting in the face of his old enemy, Francis Vere. Among Percy's friends were Thomas Percy, his cousin and estate manager. On 4 November 1605, the day before Thomas was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot, the pair dined together at Syon. The Earl claimed he had no knowledge of the plot, and that their meeting the day before was a discussion of estate business, but he failed to convince the council. He was sent to the Tower of London on 27 November, and charged with contempt the following June. He remained there for seventeen years; among his cellmates was Sir Walter Ralegh, with whom he developed a close friendship. Among his visitors was his wife, the Countess, who was deeply devoted, and whose death in 1619 greatly affected the Earl.
Released in 1621, he retired to Petworth, London and Bath; he died at Petworth on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, 5 November 1632, and buried there within 24 hours of his death.
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, also commonly called the "Wizard Earl" on account of his fascination with science, was born at Tynemouth Castle in April 1564. He was the eldest son of Henry, 8th Earl of Northumberland, and Katherine Neville, daughter of Lord Latimer.
Despite his family's disgrace - his father was found dead in the Tower of London, officially recorded as suicide but possibly murdered; and his uncle, Thomas, 7th Earl of Northumberland, was executed for leading the Rising of the North - he was favoured by Queen Elizabeth I, who created him a Knight of the Garter in 1593. He converted to Protestantism - a prudent move in light of his family history.
Northumberland was fascinated by science, gardening and agriculture. At Alnwick and Petworth, he accumulated a library still in existence. In 1594, he married Lady Dorothy Perrot, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys. Their children included the courtier Lucy, later Countess of Carlisle, a prominent courtier; and Henry, Baron Percy of Alnwick.
Despite currying favour with the new king, James I, in 1603 he offended the new king by spitting in the face of his old enemy, Francis Vere. Among Percy's friends were Thomas Percy, his cousin and estate manager. On 4 November 1605, the day before Thomas was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot, the pair dined together at Syon. The Earl claimed he had no knowledge of the plot, and that their meeting the day before was a discussion of estate business, but he failed to convince the council. He was sent to the Tower of London on 27 November, and charged with contempt the following June. He remained there for seventeen years; among his cellmates was Sir Walter Ralegh, with whom he developed a close friendship. Among his visitors was his wife, the Countess, who was deeply devoted, and whose death in 1619 greatly affected the Earl.
Released in 1621, he retired to Petworth, London and Bath; he died at Petworth on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, 5 November 1632, and buried there within 24 hours of his death.
Despite his family's disgrace - his father was found dead in the Tower of London, officially recorded as suicide but possibly murdered; and his uncle, Thomas, 7th Earl of Northumberland, was executed for leading the Rising of the North - he was favoured by Queen Elizabeth I, who created him a Knight of the Garter in 1593. He converted to Protestantism - a prudent move in light of his family history.
Northumberland was fascinated by science, gardening and agriculture. At Alnwick and Petworth, he accumulated a library still in existence. In 1594, he married Lady Dorothy Perrot, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys. Their children included the courtier Lucy, later Countess of Carlisle, a prominent courtier; and Henry, Baron Percy of Alnwick.
Despite currying favour with the new king, James I, in 1603 he offended the new king by spitting in the face of his old enemy, Francis Vere. Among Percy's friends were Thomas Percy, his cousin and estate manager. On 4 November 1605, the day before Thomas was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot, the pair dined together at Syon. The Earl claimed he had no knowledge of the plot, and that their meeting the day before was a discussion of estate business, but he failed to convince the council. He was sent to the Tower of London on 27 November, and charged with contempt the following June. He remained there for seventeen years; among his cellmates was Sir Walter Ralegh, with whom he developed a close friendship. Among his visitors was his wife, the Countess, who was deeply devoted, and whose death in 1619 greatly affected the Earl.
Released in 1621, he retired to Petworth, London and Bath; he died at Petworth on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, 5 November 1632, and buried there within 24 hours of his death.
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