George Neville, Duke of Bedford

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George Nevill (1457–1483), was an English nobleman, who as a young boy had the possibility of becoming a great magnate, but never did due to the political failure of his father and uncle.

He was the son of John Neville, Earl of Northumberland (and later Marquess Montagu), a younger brother of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick. His mother was Isobel Ingoldsthorpe, only daughter and heiress of Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe and Joan Tiptoft. Joan was a sister of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester.

At birth George was the likely or possible heir to a large estate. Most definite was the property of his father's earldom, his mother's Ingoldsthorpe estates, and the more modest jointure of his parents. The latter two were by themselves sufficient to support a baron. He was also heir apparent (after his father) to the Neville estates of his uncle the Earl of Warwick. These were entailed to heirs male and the earl had only daughters. Finally, George was likely to inherit (after his mother and grandmother) a third share of the Tiptoft property held by his childless great-uncle the Earl of Worcester. The inheritances altogether would yield around 4,000 pounds a year, which compares favorably with the 4500 pounds annual income of the Duke of Clarence, the greatest magnate of the time.

He was made Duke of Bedford in 1470, as the intended husband of Elizabeth of York. However, his father and his uncle (the Earl of Warwick) rebelled against Edward IV the next year and were slain. An act of attainder was never passed against them, but George never received any inheritance from them or from his maternal ancestors. An act of parliament in 1475 gave the Neville inheritance in the north of England to Richard, Duke of Gloucester.^[1] He had a half-interest in the estates of his maternal grandfather, Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe, and his maternal grandmother, Joan Tiptoft, who was sister and heiress of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester.^[2]

Shortly before he came of age in 1478 he was deprived of the title by act of parliament, ostensibly for lack of money to maintain the style of a duke.^[3]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Ross 30
2. ^ Ross 30 footnote
3. ^ Ross 30

[edit] References

• Hicks, Michael (1986). "What Might Have Been: George Neville, Duke of Bedford, 1465-83: His Identity and Significance". The Ricardian 96.  reprinted in his book Richard III and his Rivals.
• Ross, Charles (1981). Richard III. Methuen. ISBN 0-413-29530-3. 

Vacant Title last held by John of Lancaster

Duke of Bedford 1470–1478

Succeeded by Forfeit, next held by Jasper Tudor