Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, was born on March 10, 1536, in London, England. He was the son of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and his wife, Frances de Vere. He was a powerful nobleman during the reigns of Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a staunch Catholic and a loyal servant to Mary I. During the reign of Elizabeth I, he was imprisoned for his involvement in the Ridolfi Plot, a Catholic conspiracy to overthrow the queen and restore Catholicism to England. He was released after several years in prison but remained under close surveillance. In 1572, he was again implicated in a Catholic conspiracy, the Throckmorton Plot, and was imprisoned once more. He was released again in 1574 and was allowed to return to court, but he was never fully trusted by Elizabeth I. In 1580, he was implicated in another Catholic conspiracy, the Rising of the North, and was executed for treason on June 2, 1582. His title and estates were forfeited to the crown. Thomas Howard was married twice and had several children, including his son, Philip Howard, who was also a Catholic martyr.
