Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex

Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG, PC (died 13 March 1540) was an English soldier, peer and courtier at the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He married Mary Say, by whom he had one daughter, Anne, who became his heir.

Family

Bourchier was the son of William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier and Anne Woodville. Through his mother, he was the nephew of Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort to Edward IV and in 1483, due to the death of his grandfather Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex, he inherited the earldom.

Career

Bourchier was a member of Henry VII's privy council and was present at the siege of Boulogne in 1492. Five years later he led a detachment against the rebels at Blackheath. When Henry VIII became king, he was made captain of the new bodyguard, and in 1513 was lieutenant-general of the spears at the sieges of Therouanne and Tournai. The following year he was appointed Chief Captain of the King's forces. He was one of the judges at the trial of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham when the latter was tried on a charge of treason, and received the manor of Bedminster as his share of the Duke's forfeited estates.

In March 1540, he broke his neck after falling from his horse and died from his injury. His barony was inherited by his daughter, who was separated from her husband, William Parr, brother of Queen Katherine Parr, who was later created Earl of Essex.^[1]

References

•  "Bourchier, Henry (d.1539)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.