William Herbert 1580-1630

William HERBERT, 3rd Earl of Pembroke 1580-1630

Armorial stamp of William Herbert (British Armorial Bindings)

Biographical Note

Son of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (d.1601) and Mary Sidney (1561-1621); husband of Mary Talbot. Matriculated at New College, Oxford in 1593. He did not graduate, but was awarded MA in 1605. Following an affair with Mary Fritton (d.1641), he lost his position at Elizabeth's court and was imprisoned in the Fleet. Following James' accession, he regained favour, eventually becoming one of the most powerful figures at court. He was made steward of the Duchy of Cornwall, lord warden of the stannaries, lord lieutenant of Cornwall and in 1615 lord chamberlain. He was elected Chancellor of Oxford University in 1617. He is notable for being 'the greatest patron' of the arts 'of his generation' (ODNB).

Books

Books with his armorial stamps survive. Bought the Barocci collection of Greek manuscripts in 1629, most of which he gave to the Bodleian Library.

Sources

• British Armorial Bindings.
• Macray, W. D. Annals of the Bodleian Library. 2nd edn, Oxford, 1890, 68-72.
• Stater, Victor. "Herbert, William, third earl of Pembroke (1580–1630), courtier and patron of the arts." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

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