Francis
Walsingham, the son of a prosperous London merchant, was born in Chislehurst,
Kent, in about 1530. He studied at Cambridge
University where he became a strong supporter of Protestantism.
He is suspected of being involved in the plot to make Lady
Jane Grey queen
of England. He escaped to Europe and studied law at Padua.
After
Elizabeth
became
queen Walsingham returned to England. Soon afterwards William
Cecil arranged
for Walsingham to obtain a seat in the House
of Commons.
In
1570 Walsingham was appointed Ambassador to France. Over the next
two years his house became a refuge for Huguenots being persecuted
by Catholics.
On
his return to England in 1573 Walsingham he became Principal Secretary.
Specializing in foreign affairs he advocated an aggressive policy
in favour of Protestants in Europe.
Walsingham
played an important role in protecting Elizabeth
from
Catholic plots. Using a network of agents and informers, he exposed
plots led by Robert Di Ridolfi (1570),
Francis Throckmorton (1584) and
Anthony
Babington (1586).
In 1587 he obtained
details of the planned Spanish Armada.
Francis
Walsingham died in
1590.
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