Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton

The Right Honourable The Earl of Northampton KG
Henry Howard, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, since 1 January 1604 and Earl of Northampton since 13 March 1604
First Lord of the Treasury
In office 1612–1613
Preceded by	The Earl of Salisbury
Succeeded by	The Viscount Brackley
Lord Privy Seal
In office 1612–1613
Preceded by	The Earl of Salisbury
Succeeded by	The Earl of Somerset
Personal details
Born	25 February 1540 Shotesham, Norfolk, England
Died	15 June 1614 (aged 74) Charing Cross, London, England
Parent(s)	Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Frances de Vere
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton KG (25 February 1540 – 15 June 1614) was an important English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspected throughout his life of being Roman Catholic, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered greatly. He was distinguished for learning, artistic culture and his public charities. He built Northumberland House in London and superintended the construction of the fine house of Audley End. He founded and planned several hospitals. Francis Bacon included three of his sayings in his Apophthegms, and chose him as "the learnedest councillor in the kingdom to present to the king his Advancement of Learning."^[1] After his death, it was discovered that he had been involved in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury.