Robert Rich (2nd Earl Holland)

3 Annotations

First Reading

language hat  •  Link

You might add Robert's dates: (c.1620-75).
He became the 2nd Earl of Holland in 1649, and with the death of his cousin Charles Rich in 1673 the 5th Earl of Warwick as well. His wife was Lady Anne Montagu (they were married before April 1668), who was buried July 9, 1689 in Kensington.

Third Reading

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

In 1612 Sir Henry, Lord Rich married Isabel Cope (d. 1655), daughter and heir of Sir Walter Cope, whose death 2 years later left him possessed of a substantial estate in Kensington and Cope Castle, a new mansion designed by John Thorpe, which Rich later enlarged and renamed Holland House.
They had numerous children, including
Frances (1617–1672),
Robert (1619–1675), *
Henry (1620–1669),
Isabella (1623–1670),
Susannah (1628–1649),
Diana (d. 1659),
Charles (d. 1645),
Cope (1635–1676)
and Mary (1636–1666).
Several of the family tombs are at St. Mary Abbots Church, Kensington.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen…

"In 1612 he married the daughter and heiress of the master of the Wards, Sir Walter Cope, when property in Smithfield was settled on him, producing an income of £334 p.a. even before he developed the site.
"By early 1613 Rich was regularly taking part in tilts and masques at Court. Clarendon described him as ‘a very handsome man, of a lovely and winning presence and a gentle conversation’ and Arthur Wilson stated that his looks ‘equalled the most beautiful of women’.
His handsome features attracted the attentions of King James I, and although Rich is said to have turned aside and spat ‘after the king had slobbered his mouth’, this incident, which may have been apocryphal, does not seem to have marred his progress at Court. ...
His son Robert succeeded as 5th earl of Warwick in 1675, but none of his descendants sat in the Commons."

His Parliamentary bio doesn't mention his marrying anyone else, or when Countess Isabel Cope Rich died.
https://www.historyofparliamenton…

* Robert Rich became the 2nd Earl of Holland in 1649, and with the death of his cousin, Charles Rich in 1673 he became the 5th Earl of Warwick as well.
His wife was Lady Anne Montagu (they were married before April 1668), who was buried July 9, 1689 in Kensington.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

So who is the widow living at Holland House mentioned by Mr. Wheatley?

It might have been occupied by Robert and Anne Montagu Rich, Earl and Countess of Holland? But we don't know they were married yet. And why would they be renting out part of their house?
On the other hand, perhaps one of the foreign ambassadors was staying with them -- or at his house if they were not married -- as it would have been an enormous establishment. There were in-coming and out-going ambassadors of several countries needing such accommodations, and such quarters would be prime real estate.
I can see young Sam Hartlib having business with such people.

Oh, for UBER time travel.

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References

Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.

1660

  • Aug