COURTENAY, Sir William II (c.1580-1603), of Powderham, Devon.

After leaving Cambridge, Courtenay and his brother Francis accompanied their father to Ireland in the service of the Earl of Essex, each of the brothers in command of 150 men. Courtenay distinguished himself, and was knighted by the Earl in Dublin. Upon his return from Ireland, his father obtained him a parliamentary seat at Fowey, and shortly afterwards admission to the Inner Temple. In February 1603 his father thanked Sir Robert Cecil for his regard for the young man, who died that year v.p. and s.p.1Vivian, Vis. Devon, 247; CP, iv. 333; CSP Ire. 1600, p. 278; Trans. Dev. Assoc. lxxxviii. 177-8.