Duke of Somerset
The present dukedom is unique, in that the first holder of the title created it for himself in his capacity of Lord Protector of the Kingdom of England, using a power granted in the will of his nephew King Edward VI.1155), a favourite of Empress Matilda and a loyal supporter of her in the war against King Stephen (during which he earned the epithet of the "Scourge of the West"), was given the title Earl of Somerset in 1141.Henry's titles were forfeited by act of Parliament; but his brother Edmund Beaufort (c.1439–1471) was styled Duke of Somerset by the Lancastrians.[3] In 1499 Henry VII nominated his infant son Edmund to the dukedom of Somerset at his baptism, but the child, just over a year old when he died,[3] was probably never formally created a peer.[9] Robert Carr (c. 1587–1645), born Kerr/Ker, son of Sir Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst, became a favourite of King James VI and I.[13] On 10 August 1547 he obtained royal letters patent to bear the augmented coat of arms previously granted in 1536 by Henry VIII to Jane Seymour.On the failure of the junior male line in 1750, Sir Edward Seymour, 6th Baronet of Berry Pomeroy became the 8th Duke of Somerset, as the patent allowed, and his descendants, seated at Maiden Bradley House in Wiltshire, continue to bear the title today.[15] He was replaced in the minority government of Edward VI by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, whose pragmatic style contrasted with Seymour's mixture of idealism and arrogance.This enabled King Charles II to restore the ducal title to the fourth creation family, the Seymours, who descend from the country's de facto regent, the lord protector in 1547.Charles I received his support and made him Marquess of Hertford in 1640 and on 13 September 1660, shortly before his death on 24 October, the title of Duke of Somerset was restored to him as its legitimate heir, following its non-existence for 108 years.When the 5th Duke died unmarried in 1678, the title passed to his brother, Charles Seymour (1662–1748), youngest son of the 2nd Baron Trowbridge.The 6th duke died 2 December 1748, at Petworth House, Sussex[18] at age 86 leaving the title to his son from his first marriage Algernon Seymour (1684–1750).The remainder of the earldom was to pass to Sir Hugh Smithson, husband of Algernon's daughter Elizabeth Seymour (bef.1730–1776), whilst the titles Baron Cockermouth and Earl of Egremont were remaindered to the children of his sister, Lady Catherine Seymour (1693–1731).Without male issue, on his death in February 1750 these titles therefore passed to different families in accordance with the remainders in the patents of their creation.The 11th Duke was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Adolphus Seymour (1804–1885) who was created Earl St. Maur, of Berry Pomeroy in 1863.[24] Includes dukes of: Albany, Albemarle, Bedford, Cambridge, Clarence, Connaught and Strathearn, Cumberland, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Gloucester and Edinburgh, Hereford, Kent, Kintyre and Lorne, Norfolk, Ross, Somerset, Sussex, Windsor, and York, but only when royally.
Jane SeymourHenry VIHenry VIIEdward VICharles IIPeerage of EnglandJohn Beaufort, 3rd Earl of SomersetJohn Seymour, 19th Duke of Somersetheirs maleof the bodyBradley HouseBerry Pomeroy CastleBulstrode ParkSomersetLord ProtectorKingdom of EnglandKing Edward VIcourtesy titleprecedenceDuke of NorfolkEarl of KendalEarl of SomersetMarquess of DorsetMarquess of SomersetEarl of DorsetEarl of HertfordMarquess of HertfordBaron Seymour of TrowbridgeBaron PercyBaron CockermouthEarl of EgremontMaiden BradleyWiltshireTotnesAll Saints' Church, Maiden BradleyWilliam de Mohun of DunsterEmpress MatildaKing StephenHenry IIJohn BeaufortJohn of GauntKatherine SwynfordThomas Holland, 2nd Earl of KentHenry IVCommonsHenry BeaufortEdmund BeaufortFirst Battle of St Albansbattle of TowtonScotlandbattle of HexhamCharles SomersetEarl of WorcesterLancastriansBattle of TewkesburyTewkesbury AbbeyYorkistsEdmundHenry VIIIHenry FitzRoyElizabeth BlountEarl of NottinghamDuke of RichmondRobert CarrSir Thomas KerFerniehirstfavouriteJames VI and Iprivy councillorLord SalisburyEdward Seymour, 1st Duke of SomersetLord Protector of the Realmfeudal baron of HatchHatch Beauchampletters patentaugmented coat of armsCatherine Fillolbaronet "of Berry Pomeroy"Edward Seymour, 6th BaronetMaiden Bradley HouseJohn DudleyCharles IEdward SomersetIrelandCommonwealthRestorationHouse of LordsEarl of GlamorgandextersinisterEdward SeymourElizabeth IWilliam SeymourArbella StuartLord DarnleyTower of Londonthe third son mentionedJohn SeymourFrancis Seymour, 3rd Baron Seymour of TrowbridgeCharles SeymourFrancis SeymourQueen AnneElizabeth PercyJoceline Percy, 11th Earl of NorthumberlandDaniel Finch, 2nd Earl of NottinghamPetworth HouseSussexAlgernon SeymourHugh SmithsonEdward Seymour, 6th baronet of Berry PomeroyHouse of CommonsWebb SeymourEdward Adolphus Seymourof Berry PomeroyEdward A. F. SeymourGaribaldiBrightonTangiermarried RosinaArchibald Henry Algernon SeymourAlgernon Percy Banks St. MaurEdward Hamilton SeymourLord Francis SeymourDean of WellsEvelyn Francis SeymourPercy Hamilton Seymour