Duke of Beaufort

Duke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England that was created by Charles II of England in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of the Plantagenet dynasty through the legitimized House of Beaufort. The dukedom is named after Henry de Beaumont's French lordship, though the family's powerbase has long been in the Welsh Marches and South West England. The title has remained in the Somerset family for over three centuries, with the current holder being Henry Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort, a prominent landowner and former master of the Beaufort Hunt.

History

The title's origins lie in the medieval House of Beaufort, the legitimized descendants of John of Gaunt and his mistress, later wife, Katherine Swynford. The first creation of the Earl of Worcester was in 1138 for Waleran de Beaumont, but the modern ducal line descends from Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, a legitimized grandson of the first Beaufort Duke of Somerset. The family were staunch Cavalier supporters during the English Civil War, with Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester famously holding Raglan Castle for King Charles I. Their loyalty was rewarded after the Stuart Restoration, leading to the elevation to a dukedom. The family played significant roles in subsequent political events, including the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite risings.

Dukes of Beaufort (1682)

The title has passed in direct male line from father to son since its creation. The first duke, Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, served as Lord President of the Council and was a key figure in the courts of Charles II and James II. His son, Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, was a political ally of Robert Harley. The third duke, Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, died without issue, passing the title to his cousin, Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort. Notable later holders include Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, a friend of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort, who was involved in the Tithe Commutation Act 1836. The eighth duke, Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort, was a noted sportsman and master of the Badminton hunt, which gave its name to the sport of badminton.

Family seat

The principal family seat is Badminton House, a vast Palladian estate in Gloucestershire within the Cotswolds. The house was significantly enlarged in the 17th century by the first duke and further remodeled in the 18th century by William Kent and Thomas Wright. The estate is the venue for the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials, an event in the Eventing world founded by the tenth duke, Henry Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort. Other historic family residences have included Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire and Troy House. The Beauforts have been major landowners in Monmouthshire, Brecknockshire, and Glamorgan for centuries.

Coat of arms

The armorial bearings are: *Quarterly: 1st and 4th, France and England quarterly, a bordure compony Argent and Azure (for Beaufort); 2nd and 3rd, Or, a lion rampant Azure (for Clare). The shield is supported by two panthers rampant Argent, spotted with various colours, fire issuing from their mouths and ears. The crest is a portcullis Or, chained Azure, which is the badge of the House of Beaufort and, by extension, the Tudor dynasty. The motto, "Mutare vel timere sperno," reflects the family's steadfast royalist history.

Notable members

Several younger sons and daughters of the dukes have achieved distinction. Lord Charles Somerset served as Governor of the Cape Colony, while Lord Robert Somerset was a cavalry commander at the Battle of Waterloo. Lord FitzRoy Somerset was the British Army officer who commanded troops during the Crimean War and for whom the Raglan sleeve is named. Lady Emily Somerset was the mother of Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. In the 20th century, Lady Mary Somerset married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, a son of George V.

Other titles

The Duke of Beaufort holds several subsidiary titles, all in the Peerage of England: Marquess of Worcester (created 1642), Earl of Worcester (1514), and Baron Herbert of Chepstow, Raglan, and Gower (1506). The title Earl of Glamorgan was used as a courtesy title by the heir apparent from 1644 to 1682 but is not formally recognized. The heir apparent uses the courtesy title Marquess of Worcester, and his heir uses Earl of Glamorgan. The family also historically held the Lord Lieutenancy of Monmouthshire for many generations.