Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
A wealthy Elizabethan earl whose life was a turbulent mix of political intrigue, a passion for secret science, and fifteen years imprisoned in the Tower of London.
1564–1632 (age 68)·English nobleman·Birthday: April 27
Biography
Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, was one of the richest men in England, a figure who moved in the highest circles of the Elizabethan and Jacobean courts. His wealth and intellectual curiosity funded a private world of learning at his estate, where he maintained a vast library and conducted experiments in alchemy and navigation, earning him the nickname 'The Wizard Earl.' This very intellect and his Catholic sympathies drew suspicion. After the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for fifteen years, not for direct involvement, but for likely knowing of the conspiracy. His prison became a salon for thinkers, and he continued his studies of maps and science, a nobleman whose mind remained free even as his body was confined by royal paranoia.
#1 When Henry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1564
Henry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1564Born
1569Started school
1577Became a teenager
1580Could drive
1582Could vote
1585Turned 21
1594Turned 30
1604Turned 40
1614Turned 50
1624Turned 60
1632Died at 68
Key Achievements
- Patronized leading mathematicians and scientists of the day, including Thomas Harriot, who lived in his household.
- Amassed one of the largest private libraries in England, reflecting deep interests in science, alchemy, and exploration.
- Served as a Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners, an elite royal bodyguard, under Queen Elizabeth I.
- Despite imprisonment, maintained his wealth and influence, eventually securing his release from the Tower by paying a massive fine.
Did You Know?
He paid the enormous sum of £11,000 to the Crown for his release from the Tower of London.
His son, Algernon Percy, was a prominent Parliamentary leader during the English Civil War.
The 'Wizard Earl' was a major investor in the Virginia Company, which founded the Jamestown colony.
He was the brother-in-law of Sir Walter Raleigh, another Elizabethan figure imprisoned in the Tower.
“My tower is my laboratory, where the mind can experiment in peace.”
