Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566-1601)

English soldier and politician. Having taken part in the Dutch fight against Spain, he became a favourite with Queen Elizabeth I in 1587, but fell from grace because of his policies in Ireland, where he was Lieutenant from 1599, and was executed.

He succeeded to the earldom in 1576. In 1599 he led an army unsuccessfully against Irish rebels under the Earl of Tyrone in Ulster, made an unauthorized truce with Tyrone, and returned without permission to England. Forbidden to return to court, he marched into the City of London at the head of a body of supporters, was promptly arrested, tried for treason, and beheaded on Tower Green.