Thomas Howard, 4th duke of Norfolk

Thomas Howard was the son of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who was put to death for alleged treasonable activities in 1547, when Henry was 11 years old. Henry was placed under the protection of the Privy Council. He was restored to his father’s title on the accession of Queen Mary Tudor (r. 1553-1558) in 1553, he succeeded his grandfather as Duke of Norfolk in 1554.

Henry added considerably to his fortune by marrying the heiress to the Earl of Arundel, and, when she died, by marrying the heiress to the Audley fortune at Walden. In 1566 he married for the third time. This time it was to Elizabeth Leyburne (1536-1567), widow of Lord Dacre of Gilsland. Under Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) he was made a Privy Councilor and Earl Marshall.

Howard was involved in a plot against Elizabeth I in 1569 but was discovered, arrested, imprisoned and executed on Tower Hill in 1572. At the time of his execution Norfolk was worth about £150,000. This would be worth £9.2bn in 2010.