General Clinton

JOHN DE CLINTON, son of Thomas de Clinton, and the descendant of Geoffray de Clinton, Lord Chamberlain to HENRY I, marrying Ida, eldest of the four sisters and co-heirs of William de Odingsells, Lord of Maxstoke Castle, Warwickshire, and thus acquiring that lordship, seated himself there. This John de Clinton was in the wars of Scotland in the time of EDWARD I, and had summons to Parliament, as Baron Clinton, in 1299.

He died in 1315, leaving two sons,

JOHN, his successor;
WILLIAM, created EARL OF HUNTINGDON.

The elder son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (c1300-35), was summoned to Parliament from 1332 to 1335, in which latter year he died, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 3rd Baron (c1325-98), summoned to Parliament from 1357 to 1397.

This nobleman inherited the estates of his uncle, William, Earl of Huntingdon.

His lordship was engaged in the French wars, with little interruption, during the reigns of EDWARD III and RICHARD II.

He wedded firstly, Idonea, elder sister of William, Lord Say, and aunt and sole heir of Elizabeth, Baronesss Say; she was also cousin and heir of William, Baron Sele.

By this lady he had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Thomas;
Margaret.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William de la Plaunch.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 4th Baron (1378-1431), who married Alice, daughter of William, 2nd Baron Botreaux, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 5th Baron (1410-64); who exchanged his manor of Maxstoke with Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, for the manors of Whiston and Woodford, Northanptonshire.

His lordship, being a staunch Yorkist, was attainted in 1461, but on the subsequent re-establishment of his party, he was restored, and enjoyed the favour of EDWARD IV.

He wedded Joan, daughter of Edmund, 5th Baron Ferrers, and was father of

JOHN, 6th Baron (c1429-88), who wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 7th Baron (1471-1514), who espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Morgan, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 8th Baron (1490-1517), who married Mary, natural daughter of Sir Edward Poynings KG; and dying of the sweating sickness, was succeeded by his son,

EDWARD, 9th Baron (1512-85), who was one of the most eminent persons of the age in which he lived.

His lordship was created EARL OF LINCOLN in 1571, having previously filled the office of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL.

He married firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Blount, and had issue, three daughters,

Bridget; Katherine; Margaret.

His lordship wedded secondly, Ursula, daughter of William, 7th Baron Stourton, and had further issue,

HENRY, his successor;
William;
Thomas;
Frances; Anne; Elizabeth.

His lordship espoused thirdly, in 1552, Elizabeth, daughter of Gerald, 8th Earl of Kildare.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY, 2nd Earl (1541-1616), KB, who married firstly, in 1557, the Lady Catherine Hastings, daughter of Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, and had issue,

Edward;
THOMAS, his successor.

He wedded secondly, in 1586, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and had further issue,

Kendal;
Henry (Sir).

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

THOMAS, 3rd Earl (1568-1619), who espoused Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir Henry Knyvett MP, and had issue,

THEOPHILUS, his successor;
Henry;
Thomas;
Edward;
Charles;
Knyvett;
Arabella; Susan; Frances; Dorcas; Sara; Ann.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THEOPHILUS, 4th Earl (1599-1667), KB, who married firstly, in 1622, Bridget, only daughter of William, 1st Viscount Say and Sele,

EDWARD, Lord Clinton, father of EDWARD, who succeeded his grandfather;;
Catharine; Arabella; Margaret.

He wedded secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Gorges.

His lordship's grandson,

EDWARD, 5th Earl (1645-92), wedded, in 1674, Jeanne, daughter of Pierre de Guliere, Lord of Verun; though died without issue, when the earldom reverted to his cousin,

FRANCIS, as 6th Earl (1635-93), who espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Killigrew, and had issue, an only child, Francis, who died in infancy.

He married secondly, Susan, daughter of the Rev Anthony Peniston, and had further issue,

Henry, 7th Earl;
GEORGE, of whom we treat;
Susannah.

His lordship's younger son,

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET THE HON GEORGE CLINTON (c1686-1761), Governor of the Colony of Newfoundland, 1732, Governor of the Province of New York, 1741, wedded Anne, daughter and co-heir of General Peter Carle, and had, with other issue,

HENRY, his heir;
Mary; Lucy Mary.

Admiral Clinton's son and heir,

GENERAL THE RT HON SIR HENRY CLINTON KB (1730-95), Commander-in-Chief, America, 1778-82, who married, in 1767, Harriet, daughter of Thomas Carter, and had issue,

Frederick, died in 1774;
WILLIAM HENRY (General Sir), GCB, his heir;
Henry (Lieutenant-General Sir), GCB;
Harriet; Augusta.

Photo Credit: National Army Museum

Sir Henry was appointed Governor of Gibraltar in 1794, though died in London before taking up the post.

He was interred at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

First published in April, 2020.