Sir Francis Walsingham was a principal secretary and spymaster for Queen Elizabeth I from 1573 to 1590. He was born in 1532 and studied at King's College in Cambridge before fleeing England during the reign of Catholic Queen Mary I. Walsingham established contacts with Protestants on the continent and in England cultivated a friendship with Sir William Cecil that led to him becoming a member of Parliament in 1559. Elizabeth I tasked Walsingham with aiding French Huguenots in negotiations in 1570 due to his relationship with them, and he was made her principal secretary in 1573 in recognition of his service.

1. Sir Francis Walsingham

2. Who wasSir Francis Walsingham? This Elizabethan times man was famous as a zealous Protestant and the Spymaster for Queen Elizabeth I. Principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I from 1573 to 1590 and Elizabeth's chief spy master. Important facts accomplishments, dates and events in the life and history of Sir Francis Walsingham and the Elizabethan times in which he lived.

3. Sir Francis Walsingham's Life Francis Walsingham was born in Scadbury Park to William Walsingham and Joyce Denny. Francis was one of seven children. His father died in 1533, and later, his mother married the courtier Sir John Carey. Walsingham studied at King's College in Cambridge from 1548.Upon the death of Edward VI and accession of Catholic Queen Mary I, he fled to continue his studies as a law student at the University of Padua. Between April 1556 and November 1558, he visited Switzerland. He cultivated contacts with Protestant statesmen on the continent and then,in 1559 his friendship with Sir William Cecil helped him to become a member of Parliament . In 1570 Elizabeth I asked Walsingham to help the Huguenots in France negotiate with Charles IX because he had built up a good relationship with them. In 1573, Walsingham returned to England and was rewarded for his hard work by being made the Queen’s principal secretary. William Cecil worked also (n the mid to late 1580s)on preparing England for war with Spain.