Robert Dudley (explorer)

Sir Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley, 1590s Engraving after a portrait by Nicholas Hilliard
Born	7 August 1574 Richmond Palace, Surrey, England
Died	6 September 1649 (aged 75) Villa Rinieri, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Resting place	San Pancrazio, Florence
Known for	Courtier, explorer, cartographer, shipbuilder, engineer
Notable work	Dell'Arcano del Mare
Spouse(s)	Margaret Cavendish Alice Leigh Elizabeth Southwell
Children	By Alice: Alice Dudley Douglas Dudley Catherine Leveson Frances Kniveton Anne Dudley By Elizabeth: Carlo Dudley (recognized by the Emperor Ferdinand II as Duke of Northumberland) Ambrogio Dudley Ferdinando Dudley Teresa, Duchessa di Castiglione del Lago Cosimo Dudley Maria Christina, Marchesa Clivola Maria Magdalena, Marchesa Malaspina Antonio Dudley Enrico Dudley Anna Dudley Giovanni Dudley
Parent(s)	Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester Douglas Sheffield née Howard

Sir Robert Dudley (7 August 1574 – 6 September 1649) was an English explorer and cartographer. In 1594, he led an expedition to the West Indies, of which he wrote an account. The illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, he inherited the bulk of the Earl's estate in accordance with his father's will, including Kenilworth Castle. In 1603–1605, he tried unsuccessfully to establish his legitimacy in court. After that he left England forever, finding a new existence in the service of the grand dukes of Tuscany. There, he worked as an engineer and shipbuilder, and designed and published Dell'Arcano del Mare (1645–1646), the first maritime atlas to cover the whole world. He was also a skilled navigator and mathematician. In Italy, he styled himself "Earl of Warwick and Leicester", as well as "Duke of Northumberland", a title recognized by Emperor Ferdinand II.