Robert Dudley (explorer)

Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley, 1590s
Engraving after a portrait by Nicholas Hilliard
Born7 August 1574
Died6 September 1649 (aged 75)
Villa Rinieri, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Resting placeSan Pancrazio, Florence
Known forCourtier, explorer, cartographer, shipbuilder, engineer
Notable workDell'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.