Walsingham
SIR FRANCIS, an English statesman; born in Chiselhurst, England, about 1530. After studying at King's College, Cambridge, he traveled on the Continent for some time, and acquired a good knowledge of foreign languages and politics. He was introduced by Cecil, Lord Burleigh, to public service, under Queen Elizabeth, and employed in embassies to France, the Netherlands, and Scotland. He also sat in the House of Commons for various constituencies, was knighted, made a member of the Privy Council, and one of the principal secretaries of state.
The unraveling of the Babington plot against Queen Elizabeth was intrusted to Walsingham, and he was also one of the commissioners who tried Queen Mary. He died in Born Elms, near London, April 6, 1590. study