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Somerset House takes its name from the London home of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who commissioned a riverside mansion on the site in 1547, one of a row of noblemen's houses with fronts along the Strand. When he fell from grace in 1551 (being executed for treason the following year), the building passed to the Crown and was used by Princess Elizabeth for some years before she was crowned Queen Elizabeth I in 1558.
During the reign of King King James I, the building became the London residence of his wife Anne of Denmark, was renamed 'Denmark House'. She commissioned a number of expensive additions and improvements, some to designs by Inigo JonesInigo Jones ( July 15, 1573 June 21, 1652) is regarded as the first significant English architect. He also made valuable contributions to stage design. Beyond the fact that he was born in the vicinity of Smithfield in central London, the son of a Catholic. This expansion of the building continued during Charles ICharles I ( 19 November 1600 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625, until his death. He famously engaged in a struggle for power with Parliament; he was an advocate of the divine right of kings, but his foes in Parl's reign, including the then highly controversial addition by his wife, Henrietta MariaHenrietta Maria Henrietta Maria ( November 25, 1609 September 10, 1669) was Queen Consort of England, Scotland and Ireland ( June 13, 1625 January 30, 1649) through her marriage to Charles I. state of Maryland (in Latin, "Terra Maria") was so named in her, of a Roman Catholic chapel (also designed by Jones - who was later to die at Somerset House, in 1652Events April 6 Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. May 18 Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making slavery illegal. May 29 First Anglo).
After the English Civil WarThe English Civil War is the period of conflict in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland between 1639 and 1651, and also refers specifically to the two wars ( 1642 1645 and 1648 1649) between the Royalist supporters of Charles I of England and the and the RestorationRestoration can be one of several things, depending on context: In history, a restoration is an historical episode under which a previous government of an area is reinstated. In the History of England the term Restoration has a specific meaning in as much, Somerset House once again became a royal residence, and was refurbished by Sir Christopher WrenSir Christopher Wren ( October 20, 1632 February 25, 1723) was an English architect of the seventeenth century, famous for his role in the re-building of London's churches after the Great Fire of London of 1666. Life and Times Wren is particularly known f in 1685Events February 6 James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. February 18 Fort St. Louis is established by a Frenchman at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas. June 20. During the 18th century, however, the building ceased its royal associations. Though the view from its terraced riverfront garden, open to the public, was painted twice on his London visit by Canaletto (looking upriver and down), it was used for storage, as a residence for visiting overseas dignatories and as a barracks for troops, but suffered from neglect and demolition began in 1775.