Sir Francis Walsingham, an English statesman, born at Chiselhurst, Kent, about 1536, died near London, April 6,1590. He was educated at Cambridge, and after the accession of Elizabeth was twice sent on missions to France. In 1573 he was made one of the principal secretaries of state and privy councillor, and knighted, and thenceforth was mainly occupied with the conduct of foreign affairs, in which he exhibited remarkable astuteness. He was ambassador to the Netherlands in 1578, to France in 1581, and to Scotland in 1583. In 1586 he took the chief part in the detection of Babington's conspiracy, and was one of the commissioners for the trial of Mary Stuart, after which the chancellorship of the duchy of Lancaster was added to his other offices. He is said to have delayed for a year by his intrigues the sailing of the Spanish armada. He died very poor. His only child, a daughter, married in succession Sir Philip Sidney, the earl of Essex, and the earl of Clanricarde. His state papers and letters were edited and published by Sir Dudley Digges, under the title of "The Compleat Ambassador " (London, 1655).