Name Henry 2nd Died March 13, 1540 | Spouse Mary Say | |
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Children Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier Parents William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier, Anne Woodville Cousins Elizabeth of York, Edward V of England, Perkin Warbeck, Thomas Grey - 1st Marquess, Cecily of York Similar People William Parr - 1st Marquess, Richard Woodville - 1st Earl R, Elizabeth Woodville, Arthur Capell - 1st Baron Ca, Jacquetta of Luxembourg | ||
Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex, 6th Baron Bourchier, 3rd Count of Eu and 2nd Viscount Bourchier (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.
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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. He inherited the titles of 2nd Earl of Essex, 6th Baron Bourchier, 3rd Count of Eu and 2nd Viscount Bourchier from his grandfather Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex on his death in 1483. He married twice, about 1512 to Mary Say(e) (1474-1535), then about 1536 to Mary Blount (1498-1555).
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. In 1513 he commanded the cavalry vanguard at the Battle of the Spurs, where he ordered the charge which routed the French gendarmes. 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. Without male issue, his earldom and his countship became extinct. His barony was inherited by his daughter, who was separated from her husband, William Parr, Baron Parr of Kendal, brother of Queen Katherine Parr, who was later created Earl of Essex in 1543 and Marquess of Northampton in 1547.