Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl Of Dorset

Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset (1561–1609), was an English aristocrat and politician. His interests extended to humanism and commerce.

**Early Life and Education**

He was the eldest son of Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset, and Cecily Baker, daughter of Sir John Baker. In 1563, his grandfather Sir Richard Sackville invited Roger Ascham to educate Robert alongside his son. This event was later referenced by Ascham in his pedagogic treatise, *The Scholemaster* (1570). Claudius Hollyband served as his tutor, dedicating two French language manuals to him: *The French Schoolemaster* (1573) and *The Frenche Littelton* (1576), which went through multiple editions by 1609.

He enrolled at Hart Hall, Oxford, on 17 December 1576 at age 15 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree on 3 June 1579. Records suggest he also studied at New College. In 1580, Sackville was admitted to the Inner Temple, although he was not called to the bar.

**Political Career**

In 1585, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Sussex at age 23, through his father's influence. He later represented Lewes in 1588 and served as MP for Sussex again in 1592–3, 1597–8, 1601, and 1604–8. As an active parliamentarian, he served as chairman of several committees.

**Business and Estates**

In addition to his political pursuits, Sackville engaged in trade and held a patent related to the supply of ordnance. He inherited significant landholdings upon his father's death on 19 April 1608, including manors in Sussex, Essex, Kent, and Middlesex. His main residences included Knole and Buckhurst.

**Death and Legacy**

Robert Sackville died less than a year after inheriting the earldom, on 27 February 1609 at Dorset House in Fleet Street, London. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel at Withyham, Sussex. He contributed funds toward the establishment of Sackville College, an almshouse at East Grinstead.

**Family**

In February 1580, Sackville married Lady Margaret Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and Margaret Audley. Her family had faced disgrace following the 1572 Ridolfi plot, in which her father was implicated. He was tried and executed for treason in 1572. Despite this, Margaret later managed to recover part of her family's inheritance.

Robert and Margaret had six children, notably:

- Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset (1589–1624)

- Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset (1591–1652)

- Anne Sackville (died 1664), who married Sir Edward Seymour and Sir Edward Lewis; her monument is in Edington Priory Church, Wiltshire.

- Cecily Sackville, who married Sir Henry Compton.

Lady Margaret died on 19 August 1591. In her honor, Richard Southwell published *Triumphs over Death* in 1596, containing dedicatory verses to her and her children.

Sackville remarried on 4 December 1592 to Anne Spencer, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorp. Anne was widowed from William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle, and Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton. Near the end of his life, in 1608–9, Sackville considered separation from his second wife due to misconduct, approaching Archbishop Richard Bancroft and Lord Ellesmere for advice.

**References**

The information is derived from the *Dictionary of National Biography*, published in London by Smith, Elder & Co., between 1885 and 1900.