Norris, John (c. 1547-1597)

English soldier. He served in conflicts in the Low Countries, France, and Ireland, and in 1589 commanded, with Francis Drake, the fleet that ravaged the coasts of Spain and Portugal.

He served in the Low Countries 1577-85, at the head of a party of English volunteers fighting on behalf of the States-General in their revolt against their Spanish rulers, and acted as ambassador to the Netherlands in 1588. In 1591 he served Henry IV of France in his conflict with the League in Brittany. He went to Ireland in 1597 to aid in reducing Tyrone. After fighting and negotiating with the O'Neills in Ulster and warring in Connaught, which he failed to pacify, he asked to be recalled. This was refused, but he was superseded in his military command.