Unexpectedly on my family history research today, I came across someone who was pretty significant in European history. My 14th-great-grandfather, Henry Hastings, was the 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and a nobleman. He was born around 1535 and died in 1595. He was also distantly related on his mother’s side to King Edward IV.

He was involved in issues surrounding Mary I of England and Mary Queen of Scots, and was even educated with Edward VI. Up until his death, he also served as President of the Council of the North, which was an administrative body set up by King Richard III of England.

Sir Henry was said to be greatly influenced by Protestantism when attending college at Queens in Cambridge. He was briefly incarcerated at the Tower of London due to his support of Northumberland rather than Mary Tudor. He was later released after making amends and swearing an oath of loyalty to her.

I also found it interesting that he was said to be a patron of stage drama, and was an important aristocrat involved in the performing arts.

I hope to travel to England one day to visit his grave and explore the sights that he once visited nearly 500 years ago.

– A.B.