Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex

Henry Bourchier
5th Baron Bourchier 1st Viscount Bourchier Earl of Essex
Spouse(s)	Isabel of Cambridge
Issue
William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier Henry Bourchier Humphrey Bourchier, 1st Baron Cromwell John Bourchier Edward Bourchier Thomas Bourchier Florence Bourchier Fulk Bourchier Hugh Bourchier Isabella Bourchier Laura, Countess of Devon
Noble family	Bourchier
Father	William Bourchier, Count of Eu
Mother	Anne of Gloucester
Born	1404-1406
Died	April 4, 1483

Henry Bourchier, 5th Baron Bourchier, 1st Viscount Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex, KG (c. 1404/c. 1406 – 4 April 1483), was the eldest son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu and Anne of Gloucester. He was a matrilineal great-grandson of Edward III of England.

Contents 1 Titles 2 Career 3 Marriage and issue 4 References 5 External links 6 Ancestry

Titles

He inherited the title of 5th Baron Bourchier from his cousin Elizabeth Bourchier, 4th Baroness Bourchier on her death in 1433. He became the 1st Viscount Bourchier in 1446, a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1452, and was created 1st Earl of Essex in 1461.

Career

He saw considerable military action in France and for his services was created Viscount Bourchier during the parliament of 1445–6 and elected Knight of the Garter on his third nomination in 1452. He later saw action in 1461 as a Yorkist supporter at the Second Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Towton, soon after which Edward IV created him Earl of Essex.

He held the post of Lord High Treasurer from 29 May 1455 - 5 October 1456, 28 July 1460 - 14 April 1462, and 22 April 1471 - 4 April 1483. He also became Justice in Eyre south of the Trent in 1461, holding that title until his death.

He died on 4 April 1483 and was buried at Beeleigh Abbey, although his tomb was subsequently moved to Little Easton church.

Marriage and issue

Prior to 1426, he married Isabel of Cambridge, another descendant of Edward III. She was the elder sister of Richard Plantagenet, which made her the aunt of Richard's two sons, the future Edward IV and Richard III.

Henry and Isabel were parents to at least eleven children.

• William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier (d. 1480). Married Anne Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. They were parents of Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex and Cicely Bourchier, wife of John Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of Chartley.^[1]
• Henry Bourchier (d. 1462). Married Elizabeth de Scales, Baroness Scales. No known children.^[1]
• Humphrey Bourchier, 1st and last Lord Bourchier of Cromwell (d. 14 April 1471). Killed in the Battle of Barnet.^[1]
• John Bourchier (d. 1495). Married first Elizabeth Ferrers and secondly Elizabeth Chichelle. No known children.^[1]
• Edward Bourchier (d. 30 December 1460). Killed in the Battle of Wakefield.^[1]
• Thomas Bourchier (d. 1492). Married Isabella Barre. No known children.^[1]
• Florence Bourchier (d. 1525).^[1]
• Fulk Bourchier. Considered to have died young.^[1]
• Hugh Bourchier. Considered to have died young.^[1]
• Isabella Bourchier. Considered to have died young.^[1]

On his death she did not remarry and died more than a year later.

References

• Clark, Linda, "Bourchier, Henry", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/2987 

External links

• Luminarium Dictionary: Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex (d.1483)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex

16. John Bourchier               8. Robert Bourchier                       17. Helen Colchester               4. Sir William Bourchier                             18. Thomas Prayers               9. Margaret Prayers                       19. Margaret de Essex               2. William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu                                   20. Thomas de Louvaine               10. Sir John de Louvaine                       21. Joan de Basing               5. Alianore de Lovayne                             22. Sir Thomas Weston               11. Margaret Weston                       23. ??               1. Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex                                         24. Edward II of England               12. Edward III of England                       25. Isabella of France               6. Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester                             26. William I, Count of Hainaut               13. Philippa of Hainault                       27. Joan of Valois               3. Anne of Gloucester                                   28. William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton               14. Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford                       29. Elizabeth de Badlesmere               7. Eleanor de Bohun                             30. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel               15. Joan Fitzalan                       31. Eleanor of Lancaster

Political offices
Preceded by James Butler	Lord High Treasurer 1445–1446	Succeeded by John Talbot
Preceded by James Butler	Lord High Treasurer 1460–1461	Succeeded by John Tiptoft
Preceded by John Tiptoft	Lord High Treasurer 1471–1483	Succeeded by John Wood
Peerage of England
New creation	Earl of Essex 5th creation 1461–1483	Succeeded by Henry Bourchier
	Viscount Bourchier 1446–1483
Preceded by Elizabeth Bourchier	Baron Bourchier 1433–1483

Persondata
Name	Bourchier, Henry 1st Earl Of Essex
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	4 April 1483
Place of death