Edward Waterhouse

Sir Edward Waterhouse (1535–1591) was an English-born Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland from 1586 to 1589.^[1]

He was born in Helmstedbury, Hertfordshire, the son of John Waterhouse of Whitechurch, Buckinghamshire, once an auditor to Henry VIII. Edward was educated at Oxford and joined the King's Court.

He started his career as private secretary to Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland. He acquired land in Ireland and became a freeman of Carrickfergus, representing the town in the Irish Parliament in 1585. He then served Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, who was attempting to organise the plantation in County Antrim, until the earl's death.

He was knighted in 1584 and in 1586 appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland, handing over to George Clive in October 1589.

He retired to his estate of Woodchurch in Kent, and died there in 1591. He had married three times, firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of George Villiers, whom he divorced in 1578; secondly, Margaret Spilman of Kent and thirdly, Deborah, widow of a Mr. Harlackenden of Woodchurch, who survived him. He had no children and was succeeded by his grand-nephew Edward.

References