Robert Stedall

Robert Stedall was educated at Marlborough College and McGill University, Montreal. He is a retired Chartered Accountant having fulfilled most of his career in the City of London. He was Master of the Ironmongers’ Company in 1989 and lives near Petworth in West Sussex. His most recent book is The Roots of Ireland's Troubles published by Pen & Sword History in March 2019. This outlines the political, military and religious turmoil in Ireland from c. 1600 to c. 1900, and provides the background to the 'Troubles' that caused so many problems during the 20th Century and beyond. It covers a similar period but different subject matter to Men of Substance - The London Livery Companies' Reluctant Part in the Plantation of Ulster published by Austin Macauley in 2016. This is a meticulous and copiously illustrated record of the Companies’ part in the Ulster plantation set within the context of Irish history. Its story is not well known and it was a difficult period for all concerned, but the Companies have provided a legacy of fine market towns, churches for all denominations and the impregnable walled City of Londonderry with its historic Cathedral. Having written a family history Hunting from Hampstead (Book Guild – 2002), he embarked on a two volume history of Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI while in Scotland, The Challenge to the Crown (Book Guild 2012) and The Survival of the Crown (Book Guild 2104). These have been well received and are coupled with an acknowledged website: www.maryqueenofscots.net which has developed a strong following. The groundbreaking two-volume history charts the decline of the Scottish monarchy under Mary, and its recovery under her son James, culminating in his ascent to the English throne after Elizabeth's death. More information can be viewed on his website. His first book 'Hunting from Hampstead' (Book Guild, 2002), came about after he chanced upon a bundle of perfectly preserved water colour sketch books from his father's estate. Each page was filled with beautiful, illustrated drawings of hunting and country life drawn by Cecil Stedall, his great Uncle. 'Hunting from Hampstead' tells the story of Cecil and his brothers, who hunted from the family home in Hampstead but also travelled to Palestine with their horses to fight in the First World War. It is illustrated throughout with Cecil's drawings and photographs taken by both by Cecil and his mother, to offer a fascinating window into a family's life at the turn of the 20th century. More recently he has refocused of Tudor history. In 2016, he was approached by Pen & Sword History, to write a definitive biography of Lord Darnley, the consort of Mary Queen of Scots. This has culminated in Mary Queen of Scots' Downfall, The Life and Murder of Henry Lord Darnley, published by them in 2017. This includes a forensic examination of Darnley's murder and it has been acclaimed as a 'Historical Whodunnit'. He has now focused on a biography of Lord Robert Dudley, to be named Elizabeth I's Secret Lover, Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester. This will be published by Pen & Sword History in March 2020. While providing an intimate study of Dudley's relationship with Elizabeth, it also expands on the breadth of his many interests. Dudley paved the way for Shakespeare in the development of the English theatre; he was the great pageant master, displaying Elizabeth to her people in the best possible light; he developed English bloodstock as the precursor to the thoroughbred; and he developed English military and naval might to challenge the European superpowers and to enable its sailors to explore the world. The text also expands on the life of his father, the Duke of Northumberland as Protector for Edward VI and details the attempt to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne, while married to Robert's brother Guildford.