The following biography information provides basic facts about the life Sir Francis Walsingham: - Nationality - English
- Lifespan - 1532–1590
- Family - Wealthy family of vintners
- Education - King's College, Cambridge
- Career - Statesman, Politician and Spymaster
- Famous as a zealous Protestant and the Spymaster for Queen Elizabeth I
Facts & History about the life of Sir Francis Walsingham - Statesman, Politician and Spymaster
The following are additional facts about the life and history of Sir Francis Walsingham: - Francis Walsingham was born in 1530 to a wealthy family at Chislehurst, Kent, England
- Distant relative of Anne Boleyn the mother of Queen Elizabeth
- He was a staunch Protestant
- Attended Cambridge University
- Travelled abroad after his education
- Sir Francis Walsingham married twice. His first wife was Anne Barnes who he married in January 1562 and he married his second wife, Ursula St. Barbe, in 1567
- Went into voluntary exile in Europe when the Catholic Queen Mary was on the throne where he met many important people and gained a good understanding of foreign politics and languages
- He returned to England when Elizabeth became Queen working with Sir William Cecil ( who later became Lord Burghley)
- 1570 - Appointed Ambassador to France
- Sir Francis Walsingham was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I from 1573 to 1590
- December 21, 1573 - Sir Francis Walsingham appointed Principal Secretary of State and becomes Elizabeth's chief spy master
- Appointed a member to the Privy Council
- Sir Francis Walsingham, working with Lord Burghley, devised an intricate spy network during the latter years of Elizabeth's reign that succeeded in uncovering the Babington Plot of 1586
- Sir Francis Walsingham and Lord Burghley were instrumental in convincing Elizabeth to have Mary Queen of Scots executed in 1587
- Sir Philip Sydney married Frances Walsingham, the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham. Walsingham took responsibility for the huge debts of Sydney
- Sir Francis Walsingham died 6 Apr 1590 in his London house in Seething Lane which was located near the southwest side of the Tower of London, England
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