Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (c.
1506-1552), brother of
Henry VIII's wife
Jane Seymour, became
Lord Protector of England during
Minority between
1547 and
1549. Edward married twice; he divorced his first wife Catherine Fillol (disowning her and her children) around
1535 and married
Anne Stanhope who bore him nine children. He was created Viscount Beauchamp of Hache in
1536 and Earl of Hertford in
1537. In
1547 he made himself Duke of Somerset. His position as Lord Protector was usurped by
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick (later
Duke of Northumberland). His titles were forfeited and he was beheaded on
22 Jan 1552.
In
1644 Charles I granted the earldom of Glamorgan to
Edward Somerset (
1613-1667). He was a descendant of Charles Somerset, the illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset. In return for obtaining military help from
Ireland he promised Edward the title of Duke of Somerset. Under the
Commonwealth Edward was banished from England and his estates were seized. At the
Restoration his estates were restored, and he claimed the dukedom of Somerset as promised to him by Charles I. The claim was rejected by the
House of Lords and so was the title of
Earl of Glamorgan.
Edward Seymour (
1538-1621) was a son of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, from his second marriage. He had been created Earl of Hertford, in
1559 under
Elizabeth. The Earl of Hertford's grandson
William Seymour (
1588—1660) secretly married Lady
Arabella Stuart (
1575-1615) on
22 June 1610. She was the niece of
Lord Darnley, a cousin of James I and next in succession to both Scottish and English thrones. Both William and Arabella were imprisoned but managed to escape. William fled to
Paris, but Arabella was recaptured. She was imprisoned in the
Tower of London where she died in
1615. William returned to England shortly after her death and inherited his father's titles in
1621. He was made
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 and the Seymour family. He had outlived his three eldest sons and the dukedom passed to
William Seymour (
1654-1671) who was the son of
Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (
1626-1654), the 2nd duke's third son. The 3rd duke died unmarried and the title passed to
John Seymour (bef.
1646-1675) the last surviving son of the 2nd Duke. On his death without issue in
29 April 1675 the marquessate of Hertford became extinct. His cousin
Francis Seymour, 3rd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge (
1658—1678) became 5th Duke of Somerset. Francis was the eldest surviving son of
Charles Seymour (
1621-1665), whose father Sir
Francis Seymour (c.
1590—1664), a younger brother of the 2nd Duke of Somerset, had been created Baron Seymour of Trowbridge in
1641. When he died unmarried in
1678, the title passed to his brother,
Charles Seymour (
1662-1748), youngest son of the 2nd Baron Trowbridge. The 6th Duke, was known as "the Proud Duke", was a favourite of
Queen Anne. He first married Lady
Elizabeth Percy, daughter of
Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (
1644-1670). She died in
1722 and in
1725 he married Lady Charlotte Finch (
1711-1773), daughter of
Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham. The 6th duke died
2 December 1748 at age 86 leaving the title to his son from his first marriage
Algernon Seymour (
1684-1750).
Algernon had been created Baron Percy in
1722. After succeeding his father as 7th Duke of Somerset he was created Earl of Northumberland in
1749. The Earldom of Northumberland having become extinct with the passing of his maternal grandfather in
1670. 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 earldom of Hertford, the barony of Beauchamp, and the barony of Seymour of Trowbridge became extinct; and the dukedom of Somerset, together with the barony of Seymour, devolved on his distant cousin.
Sir
Edward Seymour, 6th baronet of Berry Pomeroy (
1701-1757) became the 8th Duke of Somerset in 1750. The 1st baronet was Edward Seymour (
1556-1613) grandson of the 1st Duke of Somerset, son of Edward Seymour (
1527/1535-1593) who was the 1st duke's eldest son from his first marriage to Catherine Fillol. The 6th baronet was thus 7 generations removed from the 1st Duke. The 4th Baronet had been speaker of the
House of Commons during the reign of
Charles II. Upon the death of the 8th duke he was succeeded by his eldest son
Edward Seymour (
1717-1792). He died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother
Webb Seymour (
1718-1793) who became the 10th Duke. His son
Edward Adolphus Seymour (
1775-1855) was a noted mathematician and became the 11th Duke upon his father's death. He changed the family name to St. Maur but Seymour was still very often used.
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