Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire (6 July 1579 – 31 January 1622) was an English nobleman and courtier.
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Biography
Norris (also spelled Norreys) was the son of Captain Sir William Norreys and Elizabeth Morison, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison of Cassiobury, Hertfordshire. He was born at Wytham in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire). Shortly after his birth, Norreys' father died; his mother subsequently received a letter of condolence from Elizabeth I.
In February 1598 Norris went to France on diplomatic service with Sir Robert Cecil. In 1599 he served in the fleet to repel a threatened Spanish invasion during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). In 1600, he inherited the title Baron Norreys from his grandfather, Henry Norris. At the same time he inherited large estates in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, which were added to upon the death of his uncle Sir Edward Norris in 1604. He was summoned to the House of Lords on 17 October 1601 and took his seat on 21 November.
On 24 March 1603 he signed the proclamation announcing the accession of James I in Oxford. In May, Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl of Lincoln and Francis Norris were sent north by the Privy Council to meet Anne of Denmark at Berwick-upon-Tweed and escort her towards London. However, at Doncaster and Northallerton they heard reports of a delay caused by the queen's illness at Stirling Castle, and sought permission from Robert Cecil to return home.
On 16 January 1605 he was made a Knight of the Bath at the creation of Prince Charles as Duke of York. In 1605 he entered Gray's Inn. In 1609 he gave oaks from his estate to aid in the construction of the Bodleian Library. In a clear sign of royal favour, Norris was present at the creation of Henry Frederick as prince of Wales in 1610, and later of Charles as prince of Wales in 1616.