Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Howard, Theophilus
HOWARD, THEOPHILUS, second Earl of Suffolk (1584–1640), baptised on 13 Aug. 1584, was the eldest son of Thomas, first earl of Suffolk (1561-1626) [q. v.], by his second wife, Catherine, widow of Richard, eldest son of Robert, lord Rich, and daughter and coheiress of Sir Henry Knevet, knt., of Charlton, Wiltshire (Doyle, Official Baronage, iii. 449-50). As Lord Howard of Walden he was created M.A. of Oxford on 30 Aug. 1605 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 314), and from 4 Nov. 1605 to 8 Feb. 1610 he sat as M.P. for Maldon, Essex (Lists of Members of Parliament, Official Return, pt. i. p. 443). On the latter date he was summoned to the upper house as Baron Howard de Walden. He became joint steward of several royal manors in South Wales on 30 June 1606, lieutenant of the band of gentlemen pensioners in July of the same year, councillor for the colony of Virginia on 23 May 1609, and governor of Jersey and Castle Cornet on 26 March 1610. In the latter year he served as a volunteer with the English forces at the siege of Juliers, and there engaged in a notable quarrel with Edward, lord Herbert of Cherbury (Herbert, Autobiography, ed. 1886, pp. 73-7, and App.) He became keeper in reversion of the Tower of Greenwich on 2 July 1611, keeper of Greenwich Park six days later, and joint lord-lieutenant of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Northumberland on 11 Feb. 1614. On 14 July of the last-named year he was promoted to the captaincy of the band of gentlemen pensioners, but had to resign it on the disgrace of his father in December 1619. After January 1619 he was made vice-admiral of Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Dorsetshire, and was reappointed captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners in January 1620, a post which he held until May 1635. On 28 May 1626 he succeeded his father as second Earl of Suffolk and hereditary visitor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was appointed during the same year lord-lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Dorsetshire, and the town of Poole (15 June) and a privy councillor (12 Nov.) He was installed high steward of Ipswich on 19 March 1627, K.G. on 24 April following, lord warden of the Cinque ports and constable of Dover Castle on 22 July 1628, lieutenant of the Cinque ports on 2 Sept. of the same year, governor of Berwick in June 1635, and a commissioner of regency on 26 March 1639. Howard died on 3 June 1640 at Suffolk House in the Strand, and was buried at Saffron Walden, Essex (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1640, p. 266). In March 1612 he married Lady Elizabeth Home, daughter and coheiress of George Home, earl of Dunbar [q.v.], and by this lady, who died on 19 Aug. 1633, had four sons and five daughters. His eldest son, James Howard, third earl of Suffolk, is separately noticed.
[Authorities in the text.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.161
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 62 | i | 23 | Howard, Theophilus, 2nd Earl of Suffolk: for 22 July read 14 July |
| 37 | after text insert Gardiner, Hist. of England, vi. 256 |