Home > Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset

He was the third son of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset. As a young man he became a commander in the English army in France. After his re-capture of Harfleur he was named a Knight of the Garter in 1436. After subsequent success he was created Earl of Dorset (1442) and the next year Marquess of Dorset. The year after that (1444) he succeeded his brother John as 4th Earl of Somerset in 1444.

During the five year truce from 1444 to 1449, Somerset was Lieutenant of France. In 1448 he was created Duke of Somerset. (He is usually called 2nd duke since his brother John had also been duke, though strictly speaking of a separate creation.)

Somerset found military success elusive after hostilities begain again in 1449. By the summer of 1450 the bulk of the English possessions in northern France were in French hands. This loss lead to the fall of the king's chief minister, William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Somerset returned to England, where he took Suffolk's place as the king's counselor. He was a favorite of the Queen, Margaret of Anjou. In fact some claimed that Edward of Westminster, the young Prince of Wales was his son, and not the king's.

The focus of the war with the French now turned to Gascony, in the south of France. Here the English were no more successful, losing all by 1453. Soon afterwards the king went insane, Somerset's rival Richard, Duke of York was named Lord Protector, and Somerset was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He life was probably saved only by the king's recovery. Henry VI had Somerset released and returned to his position at court.

The Duke of York was determined to depose Somerset by one means or another, and thus in 1455 he confronted Somerset and the king with an armed force. Somerset was killed in the resulting engagement, known as the First Battle of St Albans. It was the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, which would go on to claim many of Somerset's sons and relatives.

He was succeeded as duke by his son HenryHenry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset ( 1436 1464) was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. Some number him 2nd Duke, since the title was re-created for his father after his uncle died. Somerset was the son of E.

Somerset married Eleanor Beauchamp, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick (1382 April 30, 1439) was an English nobleman and military commander. He was the son of Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, and Margaret, daughter of the 3rd Lord Ferrers of Groby. Soon after reaching his sometime between 1431 and 1435 in a unlicensed marriage. This was later pardoned on 7 March 1438, and they had the following children:

• Eleanor, who married first James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormonde and second Sir Robert Spencer.
• Elizabeth (?- c.1492)
• Mary (1431/55-?)
• Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of SomersetHenry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset ( 1436 1464) was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. Some number him 2nd Duke, since the title was re-created for his father after his uncle died. Somerset was the son of E ( 1436Events April Paris is recaptured by the French End of the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. Sigismund is accepted as King. Alexandru I Aldea is replaced as ruler of Wallachia by Vlad II Dracul. Births Regiomontanus (Johannes Muller), German astronomer Deaths 1436.- 1463Events January 5 Poet Francois Villon is banned from Paris Births January 17 Friedrich III, Saxon elector (+ 1525) Deaths 1463.)
• Margaret (bef.1439-1474) (not to be confused with her cousin Margaret BeaufortMargaret Beaufort ( May 31 1443 June 29 1509) was the daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, granddaughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset and great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt and his mistress Katherine Swynford; following Gaunt's mar), who first married Humphrey Stafford, Earl of StaffordHumphrey Stafford (d. 1455), generally known by his courtesy title of Earl of Stafford was the son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Anne Neville (d 1480), sister of Cecily, Duchess of York. He married Margaret Beaufort, daughter of Edmund, son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of BuckinghamHumphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham ( 1402- 1460) was best-known as a military commander in the Hundred Years' War and in the Wars of the Roses. He was the son of Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford, and Anne of Gloucester, daughter of Thomas of W, by whom she was the mother of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and then married Sir Richard Darell.
• Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset(c.1439-1471); Killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury
• Anne Beaufort (c.1453-c.1496)
• John Beaufort, Earl of Dorset (c.1455-1471); Killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury
• Joan Beaufort (c.1455-1518)
• Thomas Beaufort (c.1455-c.1463)