Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham (1536-December 14,1624) was a British statesman and admiral.

He was son of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham (c. 1510 - 1573) and Margaret Gamage (d. May 18, 1531), daughter of Sir Thomas Gamage. He was a grandson of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk.

He succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham in 1573 and was created Earl of Nottingham on October 22,1596.

Howard served at sea under his father's command as a youth. He was the cousin of Elizabeth I and held several prominent posts during her reign. He served as Ambassador to France in 1559. He represented Surrey in Parliament in 1562. He served as General of the Horse in 1569 and suppressed a Catholic rebellion in northern England. He commanded a squadron of ships escorting the Queen of Spain on a state visit in 1570. He was named as Commissioner at the trial of Queen Mary in 1586 and subsequently recommended her execution.

Howard was knighted in 1572 and became Lord Howard of Effingham following his father's death in 1573.

Effingham was named Lord High Admiral in 1585. In 1587, he was named as commander-in-chief of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada although he did not directly take charge of the fighting. Effingham ordered an indirect strategy of harassing the Spanish fleet rather than attacking them directly. While controversial, the strategy succeeded. In 1596, when another Spanish invasion was feared, Effingham was again appointed to defend England. Effingham and the Earl of Essex jointly led an attack against the Spanish base at Cadiz on June 20.

Effingham was created Earl of Nottingham in 1596 and was appointed Lord Lieutenant General of England. When Essex rebelled in 1601, Effingham defeated him in the field and served as commissioner at his subsequent trial.

Effingham was at Elizabeth's deathbed in 1603 when she named James as her successor. Under James, he served on the commission of union between England and Scotland and served as commissioner at the Gunpowder Plot trial in 1605.

Effingham died in 1624 at the age of 88.

None of his three sons left heirs, and shortly after the last died the Nottingham earldom was recreated for a close relative of the Earl of Winchilsea; the Howard of Effingham barony passed to descendants of his brother, the Earl of Effingham being the modern heir.

Children

He was married first to a Catherine Carey, daughter of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Ann Morgan. They had five children:

• Lady Frances Howard (buried July 11, 1628). She was married first to Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare . They had a daughter Bridget Fitzgerald. She was secondly married to Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham. Her daughter was married first to Robert O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell and secondly to Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland .
• William Howard, Lord Howard (December 27, 1577 - November 28, 1615). He was married on February 7, 1596/1597 to Anne St. John. Their daughter Elizabeth Howard was wife to John Mordaunt, 1st Earl of Peterborough .
• Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham (September 17, 1579 - October 3, 1642). He was married first on May 19, 1597 to Charity White (d. December 18, 1618), daughter to Robert White. Secondly on April 22, 1620 to Mary Cokayne, daughter of Sir William Cokayne who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1619 and Mary Morris. No known children from either marriage.
• Lady Margaret Howard . She was married to Sir Richard Levenson.
• Lady Elizabeth Howard (buried March 31, 1646). Maid of honour to Elizabeth I of England. She was married first to Sir Robert Southwell. They were parents to Elizabeth Southwell (lover to Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick), Catherine Southwell and Sir Thomas Southwell. She was secondly married to John Stewart, 1st Earl of Carrick . They were parents to Lady Margaret Stuart who was wife to Sir Matthew Mennes.

He was married secondly to Margaret Stuart , daughter of James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray . They had two children:

• Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham (December 25, 1610 - April 26, 1681). He was married arround 1627 to Arabella Smith, daughter of Edward Smith. No known children.
• Lady Anne Howard (born c. 1612). She was married on December 29, 1627 to Alexander Stewart, Baron Garlies , son of Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Galloway and Grizel Gordon.

Reference

|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
The Marquess of Winchester | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Lord Steward
1603–1618 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
The Duke of Lennox