CARR, ROBERT. Viscount Rochester. Earl of Somerset ( ? -1645). The worthless favorite of James I. of England. lie \ a younger soli of Sir Thomas Ncr (Carr), of Fernichurst, Scot lanil. In 1603 he followed the King to England in the eatowity of page; hut he was presently dis eharged, retiring for a short time to France. He soon returned to the Coort, and in 1604, at a tilting-match. was thrown from his horse and broke Ids arm in presence of the King, who was attracted by his pleasing appearance. James had a strong predilection for youthful male beauty; and besides he N•a desirous of freeing himself from the control of the Council. so that he might in effect become his own minister. Ti) nccomplisln this purpose an old unconstitutional instrument was employed. Ile substituted a favorite for his constitutional adviser. Carr was loaded with wealth and honors. IGn7 he was knighted. Two years later he received Raleigh'., confiscated manor of Sherhorne. lie became Vis count Itiu•ioster in 1611. and Earl of Somerset in 1613. He was the sole medium of the royal favor and authority, although he was; devoid of every statesmanlike quality. and had only his good looks and high animal spirits to commend In the meantime be became enamored of Lady Frances 'Howard. wife of the Earl of Essex. ThromA the influence of the King and her rela tives. the Earls of Suffolk and Northampton, heads of the powerful Howard family. Lady
Frances succeeded in having her marriage with Essex annulled by a speeial commission: and soon thereafter, I In December 26. 1613. she mar ried the newly created Ear] of Somerset. The latter's influence hail already begun to wane be fore that of George Villiers, when, in 1615, the murder of Sir Thomas O•erbury, who had died of poison in the lower in 1613. came to light. overbury had enjoyed the confidence of Carr,' then Vi-eount during the amorous in trigue with Lady Essex. who later, actuated by fear or dislike, determined to put him out of the may. The Earl and Countess of Somerset were tried for the murder, and both were condemned to death. The Countess pleaded guilty: but the complicity of Somerset in the crime has never been clearly established. Itoth received the royal pardon. Somerset lived in obscurity until his death in 1645. Consult: Ranke, History of England, Principally in the Serenternth Century, Vol. 1. ((Ixford. 1875) ; Gardiner, llishir.ti of Eity/ond, Vol. 11. (London and New York, 1889): the latter's article in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. IX.; and Archbishop Abbot, The Case of Impotency in that Be inarkable Tryal An. 16E3, Between leob•rt, fort of Essex, and Lady Prances Howard (London, 1715) : Amos, tireat Dyer of Poisoning (London, 1846).