Sir Christopher Hatton

Sir Christopher Hatton 1540-91, English courtier. He became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, from whom he received offices, honors, and lands. Knighted in 1578, he acted as Elizabeth's spokesman in the House of Commons and, although not a lawyer, was lord chancellor from 1587 until his death. He was a friend and patron of Edmund Spenser. Hatton himself wrote the fourth act of Tancred and Gismund (first pub. 1591), a tragedy by Robert Wilmot, Henry Noel, Hatton, and others. Ely Place in Holborn, formerly in the possession of the bishops of Ely, was granted to him, and the name of the garden there was changed to Hatton Garden.

Bibliography: See A. G. Vines, Neither Fire Nor Steel: Sir Christopher Hatton (1978).

Hatton, Sir Christopher (1540–91), became the favourite of Queen Elizabeth I because of his graceful dancing (alluded to by Sheridan, The Critic, ii. ii). Hatton was lord chancellor, 1587–91, and chancellor of Oxford University, 1588. He was the friend and patron of Spenser and Churchyard, and wrote Act IV of Tancred and Gismund.

Hatton, Sir Christopher (1540–91). Lord chancellor. Of Northamptonshire gentry stock, his good looks and graceful dancing brought him to Queen Elizabeth's attention. Despite total devotion to her, his governmental career was slow to develop. He was appointed lord chancellor in 1587, when any shortfall in legal training was outweighed by impartiality, common sense, and Star Chamber experience.