Robert Dudley

HOW DID HE RISE TO PROMINENCE?

Robert was the third surviving son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, by his wife Jane Guildford. The couple invested heavily in his education and, as a result, Robert’s scholarly interests were vast. For the rest of his life, he would be renowned as a patron of artists and poets.

WHO WERE HIS LOVE INTERESTS?

Dudley married Amy Robsart in 1550 but, following her mysterious death in 1560, he remained unmarried until 1578. He dedicated much of his life to attempting, and failing, to persuade Elizabeth I to accept his hand in marriage. To the queen’s great ire, Robert wed Lettice Knollys in 1578. It was a happy marriage that produced one son, Robert, Lord Denbigh, who died aged three.

WHEN DID HE DIE?

On 4 September 1588, probably of malaria.