ESSEX, Robert Devereux, 2n Emu, OF, English courtier : b. Netherwood, Herefordshire 19 Nov. 1566; d. London, 25 Feb. 1601. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and ap peared at Court in 1577. He greatly distin guished himself at the siege of Ziitphen in 1786. On Leicester's death 1588, he became the chief favorite of Elizabeth. In 1590 he married the widow of Sir Philip Sidney, and in 1591 was sent to support Henry , IV against Spain, but the expedition effected nothing of importance. About this time Essex was on terms of close friendship with Francis Bacon, who assisted him greatly by advice on political and other matters. In 1596 he commanded an expedition to Spain, and greatly distinguished himself at the capture of Cadiz. In 1597, after an unsuc cessful expcdition to the Azores, he, with How ard and Raleigh, made extensive captures of Spanish ships. He became earl marshal and chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Next year he quarreled with the queen, who struck him on the ear and bade him "go and be hanged." After some months a reconcilia tion took place, and he was appointed lord-lieu tenant of Ireland (1599), then in a state of re bellion. He returned to England in September, having been entirely unsuccessful in his govern ment and made a humiliating truce with the rebels; was made a prisoner in his own house, and was shortly afterward (June 1600) tried by special court. The charges against him were
that he had exceeded his instructions in the Irish campaign, and had deserted his post with out leave; and he was deprived of all his offices, and sentenced to imprisonment, but not long afterward was set at liberty. He now conceived a deep resentment against the queen's councillors particularly Cecil and Raleigh, who, he imagined, had biased her against him. Being summoned before the council, he assembled his friends in his house, and proceeding to the city, endeavored to enlist the citizens to enforce dismissal of the queen's ministers. After a skirmish with a party of soldiers he returned to his house, but after a short defense was compelled to. sur render, and sent to the Tower. He was tried for treason on 19 February and executed on 26 Feb. 1601. Consult Croxall, (Memoirs of the Unhappy Favorite' (1729) ; Spedding, (Bacon) (1881) ; Abbott, (Bacon and Essex' (1877).