Sir Dudley Norton (died 27 July 1634) was an English official who was Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Ireland.

Biography

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Norton was the son of John Norton of Wyarton, Kent and Johanna St Leger, niece of Sir Anthony St Leger.[1]

In 1612, he was granted reversion of the office of the Principal Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland in the Dublin Castle administration of James VI and I.[2] On 19 January 1615, on account of the infirmities of Sir Richard Cooke, the king directed that Norton was to assume the role of Principal Secretary alongside Cooke. It was also directed that Norton would receive £200 per year and be appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland. On the death of Cooke in 1616, Norton became the senior Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Signet. Sir Francis Annesley became a secretary to assist Norton. Upon the death of James I, on 28 July 1625 Charles I of England directed Norton to continue in his office with an annuity of £200 and an allowance of £100 "for intelligence". On 13 March 1617, Henry Holcroft had been granted the reversion to Norton's position as chancellor.[3] In 1622, Norton was a member of a commission into the Plantation of Leitrim.[4]

Dudley died in 1634. He was buried in the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 30 July 1634. He had married Margaret Masterson, daughter of Sir Thomas Masterson; they had one son.

References

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  1. ^ Elliss, William Smith (1866). Notices of the Ellises of England, Scotland, and Ireland, from the conquest to the present time. p. 267.
  2. ^ Wood, Herbert (1928). "The Offices of Secretary of State for Ireland and Keeper of the Signet or Privy Seal". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature. 38: 63. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ Barry, Judy (October 2009). "Holcroft, Henry". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. ^ Mac Cuarta, Brian (2001). "The Plantation of Leitrim, 1620-41". Irish Historical Studies. 32 (127): 305. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Secretary for Ireland
1612–1634
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland
1612–1617
Succeeded by