Anne Clifford
Anne Clifford was a prominent figure in 17th-century England, known for her determined efforts to reclaim her inheritance and her significant contributions to her community. Born in the late 1560s at Skipton Castle, she was the only surviving child of George Clifford, the Third Earl of Cumberland. After her father’s death, she faced legal challenges as he had willed his estate to his brother, a situation that spurred her lifelong struggle for rights as a female heir. After her first marriage and the birth of five children, she married Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who supported her quest to regain her father's estate, which she ultimately inherited in 1643.
Clifford was deeply involved in local governance and philanthropy, establishing almshouses and restoring historic sites, including castles and churches, throughout her life. She documented her experiences in several autobiographical works, including her Diary, which provides a detailed account of her daily life and endeavors. Notably, she erected the Countess Pillar in Cumbria in memory of her mother, reflecting her strong familial ties. Anne Clifford passed away at the age of eighty-six in Brougham Castle, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and community service.
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Anne Clifford
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- Born: January 29, 1590
- Birthplace: Skipton Castle, Yorkshire, England
- Died: March 22, 1676
Biography
Lady Anne Clifford was born in the late sixteenth century at Skipton Castle in North Yorkshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. She was the third and only surviving child of George Clifford, the Third Earl of Cumberland, and Margaret Russell, daughter of the Earl of Bedford. Her tutor was the poet Samuel Daniel.
Her father died when she was fifteen, and she was dismayed to discover that he had willed his estate to his brother with the stipulation that ownership would revert to his daughter only if there were no male heirs. Following the death of her first husband, with whom she had five children, Clifford married Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke; he assisted her in her efforts to reclaim the inheritance of her late father’s estate. After this marriage, she began using the name Anne Pembroke.
Following a prolonged legal battle, she finally inherited her father’s estate in 1643, but she did not return home until 1649 because of the outbreak of the English Civil War. After the death of her second husband, she dedicated her remaining years to rebuilding and restoring old churches and castles, including Skipton, Appleby, and Brougham Castles. She also convened local courts, established almshouses for the poor, and wrote at least four autobiographical texts, including her Diary, in which she documented her everyday life in meticulous detail. In 1656 she erected the Countess Pillar in Cumbria to honor her mother, who had passed away in 1616. Lady Anne died at the age of eighty- six in Brougham Castle, in the same room where her father had been born.