Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle

For other people named Charles Howard, see Charles Howard (disambiguation).

The Earl of Carlisle.

Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle (1629 – 24 February 1685) was an English politician and military leader.

The first in the Howard line of earls, he was the son and heir of Sir William Howard, of Naworth in Cumberland, by Mary, daughter of William, Lord Eure, and great-grandson of Lord William Howard, "Belted Will" (1563–1640), the third son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. In 1645 he conformed to the Church of England and supported the government of the Commonwealth, being appointed high sheriff of Cumberland in 1650. He bought Carlisle Castle and became governor of the town. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Worcester on Cromwell's side and made a member of the council of state in 1653, chosen captain of the protector's body-guard and selected to carry out various public duties.

In 1655 he was given a regiment, was appointed a commissioner to try the northern rebels, and a deputy major-general of Cumberland, Westmorland and Northumberland. In the parliament of 1653 he sat for Westmorland, in those of 1654 and 1656 for Cumberland. In 1657 he was included in Cromwell's House of Lords and voted for the protector's assumption of the royal title the same year. In 1659 he urged Richard Cromwell to defend his government by force against the army leaders, but his advice being refused he used his influence in favor of a restoration of the monarchy, and after Richard's fall he was imprisoned. In April 1660 he sat again in parliament for Cumberland, and at the Restoration was made custos rotulorum of Essex and Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland.

On 20 April 1661 he was created Baron Dacre of Gillesland, Viscount Howard of Morpeth, and Earl of Carlisle; the same year he was made Vice-Admiral of Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham, and in 1662 joint commissioner for the office of Earl Marshal. In 1663 he was appointed ambassador to Russia, Sweden and Denmark, and in 1668 he carried the Garter to Charles XI of Sweden.

In 1667 he was made lieutenant-general of the forces and joint commander-in-chief of the four northernmost counties. In 1672 he became one of the commissioners for the office of Lord Lieutenant of Durham, and in 1673 deputy earl marshal. In 1678 he was appointed governor of Jamaica, and reappointed governor of Carlisle. He died in 1685, and was buried in York Minster. He married Anne (d. 1696), daughter of Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick, by whom he had six children:

• Edward Howard, 2nd Earl of Carlisle (c. 1646–1692)
• Lady Katherine Howard (29 July 1662 – March 1682)
• Hon. Frederick Christian Howard (5 November 1664 – October 1684), killed at the Siege of Luxembourg
• Hon. Charles Howard (5 September 1668 – 3 April 1670)
• Lady Mary Howard (d. 27 October 1708), married Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet
• Lady Anne Howard, married Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston

References

•  "Howard, Charles (1629-1685)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Parliament of England
Preceded by William Briscoe Sir Wilfrid Lawson	Member of Parliament for Cumberland with Sir Wilfrid Lawson 1660–1661	Succeeded by Sir Patricius Curwen, Bt Sir George Fletcher, Bt
Honorary titles
English Interregnum	Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland 1660–1685	Succeeded by The Earl of Thanet
	Custos Rotulorum of Cumberland 1660–1685
	Vice-Admiral of Cumberland and Westmorland 1661–1685	Succeeded by Sir John Lowther, Bt
	Vice-Admiral of Durham and Northumberland 1661–1685	Vacant Title next held by The Earl of Mulgrave
Government offices
Preceded by Sir Henry Morgan, acting	Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica 1678–1680	Succeeded by Sir Henry Morgan, acting
Peerage of England
New title	Earl of Carlisle 1661–1685	Succeeded by Edward Howard

Persondata
Name	Carlisle, Charles Howard, 1st Earl Of
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1629
Place of birth
Date of death	24 February 1685
Place of death