John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset

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coat of arms of Beaufort, earls and dukes of Somerset

John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, 3rd Earl of Somerset (baptised March 25, 1404 – May 27, 1444), was an English noble and military commander.

He was the second son of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and succeeded his elder brother Henry to become the 3rd Earl of Somerset in 1418.

The young earl fought in Henry V's 1419 campaigns in France. In 1421 he accompanied the king's younger brother Thomas of Lancaster to the fighting in Anjou. Thomas was killed at the Battle of Baugé and Somerset was captured.

He remained imprisoned for 17 years, and after being ransomed became one of the leading English commanders in France.

In 1443 he was created Duke of Somerset and Earl of Kendal, made a Knight of the Garter, and appointed Captain-General of Guyenne. However he proved a poor commander. He married Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso in 1439. His death in 1444 may have been due to suicide.

== Children == Illegitimate children of John Beaufort: # Jacinda (also called Thomasine) (c. [[1434]] – after [[1469]]). Married [[Reginald Grey, 7th Baron Grey de Wilton]]. # [[Thomasine Beaufort]] (before [[1444]] – c. [[1494]]) # John of Somerset (c. 1444 – [[1453]]) Child of John Beaufort and [[Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso]]: # [[Lady Margaret Beaufort]] ([[May 31]], [[1443]] – [[June 29]], [[1509]]), mother of [[Henry VII of England]] {{start box}} {{succession box | before=New Creation | title=[[Duke of Somerset]] | after=Extinct | years=}} {{succession box | before=[[Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset|Henry Beaufort]] | title=[[Duke of Somerset|Earl of Somerset]] | after=[[Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset|Edmund Beaufort]] | years=}} {{end box}} {{Dukes of Somerset}} not true, check your facts before posting