Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland (1532 - 1585) Henry was the son of Sir Thomas Percy and Eleanor Harbottle. He was brother of the 7th Earl. Although most other members of his family were Roman Catholic (as was the 7th Earl), Henry was Protestant.

Henry Percy served both Mary I and Elizabeth I in many capacities. While his brother was a leading agent in the Rising of the North - and was put to death after the failure of that rising - Henry was on the royal side, vigorously attacking the rebels.

In January of 1562, he married Lady Catherine Neville (1546-1594), the daughter of John Neville, Baron of Latimer and Lady Lucy Somerset. They had the following children:

• Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564-1532), married Lady Dorothy Devereux
• Lucy Percy, married Sir John Wotton and then Sir Hugh Owen
• Sir Alan Percy (d. 1613), married Mary Fitz
• Eleanor Percy (1583-1650), married William Hebert, 1st Baron of Powis
• Sir George Percy (1580-1632), married Anne Floyd

He ended up falling from the government's favour, and was fatally shot in mysterious circumstances (both suicide and murder have been alleged) at the Tower of London on 21 June 1585.

Peerage of England
Preceded by: Thomas Percy	Earl of Northumberland 1572–1585	Followed by: Henry Percy