Leicester, Robert Dudley, Earl of

Queen Elizabeth's favourite, fifth son of the Duke of North umber land; won the queen's favour by his handsome appearance and courtly addre ; received many offices and honours, and on the death, under suspicious circumstances, of his Counte , Amy Robsart, aspired to her hand; still favoured, in spite of his unpopularity in the country, he was proposed as husband to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1563; he married the dowager Lady Sheffield in 1573, and afterwards bigamously the Counte of E ex; after a short term of disfavour he was appointed commander in the Netherlands, and subsequently at Tilbury Fort, but proved an incapable soldier (1532-1588).