Jane Howard, Duchess of Norfolk (née Bickerton; 1643/44 – 28 August 1693), was the second wife of

Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk (12 July 162813 January 1684) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the second son of Henry Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel, and Lady Elizabeth Stuart. He succeeded his brother Thomas Howard, 5th Duke of ...

. Bickerton came from a very modest social background. Her parents were Anne Hester and Robert Bickerton, Gentleman of the Wine Cellar to King

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

. She met Howard when he was heir presumptive to his unmarried brother

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and became his mistress. She started living with him after the death of his wife, Lady Anne Somerset, in 1662. Upon his brother's death in 1677, Howard succeeded to the dukedom and made his marriage to Bickerton public, though it may have taken place a year earlier, with the Duke's children by Lady Anne Somerset protesting against the marriage. The family quarrel became so bitter that the Duke went abroad for a time with his new wife. The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk had four sons, all of whom died childless, and three daughters: *Lord George Howard, married but childless *Lord James Howard, drowned unmarried in August 1702 * Lord Frederick Henry Howard (d. 16 March 1727), married but childless *Lady Catherine Howard, a nun in Flanders *Lady Elizabeth Howard, m.

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, had issue. Later became a nun in Flanders *Lady Philippa Howard (d. January 1683), who had issue After the Duke's death in 1684, the Duchess married a Scot,

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had a very low opinion of her: on a visit to the Duke not long before the latter's death he wrote uncharitably: ''Went to visit the Duke of Norfolk and to know whether he would sell me any of his cartoons and other drawings of Raphael and the great masters. He answered me that he would part with and sell anything for money but his wife the Duchess who stood near him; and I thought with myself that if I were in his condition she should be the first thing that I would be glad to part with.''Evelyn ''Diary'' 9 May1683

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norfolk, Jane Howard, Duchess 1640s births 1693 deaths Jane Howard Year of birth uncertain