Ambrose Dudley | |
|---|---|
| Earl of Warwick | |
 Engraving by Willem de Passe, 1620, after an earlier portrait | |
| Tenure | 1561–1590 |
| Other titles | Baron Lisle |
| Born | c. 1530 |
| Died | 21 February 1590 London |
| Buried | Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick |
| Nationality | English |
| Residence | Warwick Castle, Warwickshire North Hall, Northaw, Hertfordshire |
| Locality | West Midlands |
| Wars and battles | Kett's Rebellion Campaign against Mary Tudor, 1553 Battle of St. Quentin, 1557 Newhaven Campaign, 1562–1563 Rising of the North |
| Offices | Master of the Ordnance Privy Councillor |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Whorwood Elizabeth Tailboys, 4th Baroness Tailboys Anne Russell |
| Parents | John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland Jane Guildford |
| Signature |  |
Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, KG (c. 1530[1] – 21 February 1590) was an English nobleman and general, and an elder brother of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Their father was John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, who led the English government from 1550–1553 under King Edward VI and unsuccessfully tried to establish Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death in July 1553. For his participation in this venture, Ambrose Dudley was imprisoned in the Tower of London and condemned to death. Reprieved, his rehabilitation came after he fought for King Philip in the Battle of St. Quentin.
On Queen Elizabeth's accession in November 1558, Dudley was appointed Master of the Ordnance, in which capacity he was to unofficially assist William the Silent in his struggle against Spain by delivering English weaponry. As the senior member of his family, Dudley was created Earl of Warwick in December 1561. In 1562–1563 he commanded the army Elizabeth sent to Le Havre to garrison the town and assist the Huguenots in the First French War of Religion. This campaign ended in failure when the French belligerents agreed to a peace and the English surrendered because of the plague which was decimating their ranks. Dudley, who had acted honorably throughout, returned with a severe leg wound which was to hinder his further career and ultimately led to his death 27 years later. His last military engagement was against the Northern rebels in 1569. From 1573 he served as a privy councillor.
Despite three marriages, Ambrose Dudley remained childless after the death of an infant daughter in 1552. This had serious repercussions for the survival of his dynasty, since his only surviving brother, Robert, equally died without legitimate issue. With him, Ambrose Dudley had a very close relationship, and in business and personal life they did many things together. Like Robert Dudley, Ambrose was a major patron of the Elizabethan Puritan movement and supported non-conforming preachers in their struggle with the Church authorities. Due to his homely way of life—and in contrast to the colourful Earl of Leicester—Ambrose Dudley became known to posterity as the "Good Earl of Warwick".