Sir Robert & Sir Thomas Howard

Poet, Playwright and Historian

Sir Robert Howard, poet, dramatist and historian, was buried at the entrance to the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey on 8th September 1698. A modern stone in the chapel records his name and date of burial as he has no monument.

He was born in 1626, sixth son of Thomas, 1st Earl of Berkshire and his wife Lady Elizabeth Cecil. His brother Edward was also a playwright and his sister Elizabeth married John Dryden the poet. He was educated at Oxford and knighted for gallantry during the English Civil War. His first wife was Anne Kingsmill (of their six children only Thomas survived his father), his second was Honoria O'Brien, his third Mary Uphill and his fourth Annabella Dyve, a maid of honour to Princess Mary. He held many posts including Privy Councillor, Secretary to the Treasury and was buried with the title Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer. His Poems was published in 1660 and his plays included The Committee and The Indian Queen. He also wrote History of the reigns of Edward and Richard II.

Sir Thomas Howard, created Earl of Berkshire in 1626, was buried in the same chapel on 20th July 1669 as was his wife Lady Elizabeth Cecil, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Exeter, on 24th August 1672. Both are recorded on the stone with Sir Robert but have no monument. He was baptised in 1587 a son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain, and his second wife Catherine (Knyvett). He was a Member of Parliament and travelled abroad. In 1614 he married Elizabeth and had nine sons and four daughters. Among many posts he was master of the horse to Prince Charles and constable of Wallingford Castle. Two of his sons, Sir Charles and Thomas, sat in the Long Parliament and Philip was also a Member of Parliament.