Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset

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Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset (1591–1652) was an English courtier, soldier and politician. He served in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1622 and became the Earl of Dorset in 1624 after his elder brother died.

He was the younger son of Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset, and Margaret, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford, and later at Cambridge. In 1613 he killed Edward Bruce, 2nd Lord Kinloss, in a duel near Bergen-op-Zoom in the Netherlands over Venetia Stanley. He was badly wounded but won the fight. Venetia later married Sir Kenelm Digby, who remained friendly with Dorset.

Dorset held many offices and roles before and after becoming earl. He was Knight of the Bath in 1616. He became involved with the Virginia Company and supported colonial growth. In 1620 he sailed with the forces to help Frederick V and fought at White Mountain. He was briefly ambassador to Louis XIII and was MP for Sussex in 1621. In 1624, while abroad, he learned of his brother’s death and became the 4th Earl of Dorset.

Back in England, Dorset faced financial problems and began selling lands to pay debts. He held numerous positions, including joint Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Middlesex, master of Ashdown Forest, and steward of Great Yarmouth. He was made Knight of the Garter in 1625 and carried the first sword at Charles I’s coronation in 1626. He served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria from 1628 and helped promote theatre in London, supporting the Salisbury Court Theatre.

He continued to work on colonial and domestic matters, holding roles in the admiralty, the Star Chamber, and various financial and building commissions. He was involved in the controversial ship-money policy and in negotiations during the growing tensions with Parliament.

When the Civil War began, Dorset supported the king. He went to Oxford, helped defend the royalist cause, and signed the capitulation of Oxford in 1646. He faced heavy fines for his royalist actions but was discharged from most penalties by 1650. After the king’s execution, he largely stayed at his house in Salisbury Court and died there in 1652. He was buried in the family vault at Wytham; his monument was later destroyed by fire.

Clarendon described him as graceful, witty, and capable, a good speaker and a practical administrator. He was a moderate politician who valued the royal prerogative, Protestantism, and the liberties of Parliament.

Dorset married Mary Curzon in 1612. They had children, including a daughter, Lady Mary, who was appointed governess to Charles, Prince of Wales, and James, Duke of York (the future Charles II and James II). She died in 1645. After the Restoration, his son Richard sought recognition from the crown for his mother's services.