Sir Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel was born on 7 July 1585 at Finchingfield, Essex, England.1 He was the son of Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel and Anne Dacre.1 He married Lady Alethea Talbot, Baroness Talbot, daughter of Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Cavendish, in September 1606.3 He died on 4 October 1646 at age 61 at Padua, Italy.4 He was buried at Arundel Castle, Arundel, Sussex, England.4 He died intestate and his estate was administered on 13 November 1646.4 His will (dated 28 March 1617 and another dated 3 September 1641) was probated on 23 July 1647 at York, Yorkshire, England.4

    Sir Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel was educated at Westminster School, Westminster, London, England.1 He gained the title of Earl of Surrey. He succeeded to the title of 21st Earl of Arundel [E., c. 1138] on 18 April 1604, after the attainders of his father and paternal grandfather were reversed by Act of Parliament.1 He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.1 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Sussex on 26 August 1608, jointly.1 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 13 May 1611.1 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk on 18 April 1615.1 On 25 December 1615 he publicly professed the Protestant faith.4 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 16 July 1616.1 He was a Commissioner of the office of the Earl Marshal on 25 September 1616, one of six.4 He held the office of Earl Marshal on 29 August 1621.4 In 1627 he was imprisoned and heavily fined for the clandestine marriage of his son, Henry Frederick to Elizabeth Stuart.3 He was Ambassador to the King's sister in December 1632, widowed Queen of Bohemia.3 He held the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons between 1633 and 1635.3 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Cumberland on 20 May 1633, jointly. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Westmorland on 20 May 1633, jointly. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland on 20 May 1633, jointly.1 He held the office of Chief Justice in Eyre, North of Trent on 25 February 1634.3 He held the office of Ambassador to Holland in 1636, on the subject of the Palantine.3 He was commander of the train bands against the Scottish Covenanters in December 1638.3 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Cumberland on 31 August 1639.3 He held the office of Lord Steward of the Household between April 1640 and August 1641.3 He held the office of Lord High Steward [England] in March 1641, at the trial of Strafford.3 In February 1642 he embarked with the Princess Mary to conduct her to her husband, the Prince of Orange.3 He was created 1st Earl of Norfolk [England] on 6 June 1644, in response to his petition to be restored to the Dukedom of Norfolk of his grandfather.3