Henry Somerset (1629 - January 21, 1699/1700) was the first Duke of Beaufort. He was previously the 3rd Marquess of Worcester, having inherited that title on the death of his father Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester on April 3, 1667. The new English dukedom was bestowed upon him by King Charles II on December 2, 1682, in recognition of his "having been eminently serviceable for the king since his most happy restoration, in consideration thereof and of his most noble descent from King Edward III by John de Beaufort, eldest son of John of Gaunt by Katherine Swynford"[1].

Beaufort later refused to swear allegiance to King William III.

On August 17, 1657, he married Mary Capel, who was the daughter of Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham, sister of Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex, and widow of Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp. They had three sons and four daughters. The sons were:

  1. Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert, who died as an infant
  2. Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (December, 1660 - July 13, 1698), who had a military and political career
  3. Arthur Somerset

Beaufort's son Charles died before he could inherit the dukedom, so on the duke's death it passed to Charles's son Henry.

Preceded by:
New Creation 		Duke of Beaufort Followed by:
Henry Somerset
Preceded by:
Edward Somerset 		Marquess of Worcester Followed by:
Henry Somerset

References

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