His Grace

The Duke of Somerset
John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset
Duke of Somerset
Tenure1671–1675
PredecessorWilliam Seymour
SuccessorFrancis Seymour
BornJohn Seymour
born 1646
Died(1675-04-29)29 April 1675
Spouse(s)
Sarah Alston
​
(m. 1656)​
FatherWilliam Seymour
MotherFrances Devereux

John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset and 3rd Marquess of Hertford (before 1646 – 29 April 1675) was an English peer and MP.

Life

Restoration of Marquis of Hertford Act 1660
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long titleAn Act for the restoring of the Marquis of Hertford to the Dukedom of Somersett.
Citation12 Cha. 2. c. 10
Dates
Royal assent13 September 1660

He was the only surviving son of William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, and Lady Frances Devereux. He married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Edward Alston and widow of George Grimston[1] in exchange for a dowry of £10,000. Her father negotiated an independent income of £300 per year for his daughter and additional clauses to cover the possibility that she became a widow. The marriage was a financial success but otherwise it was a disaster. William liked drinking and gambling, but Sarah did not.[2]

He was elected Member of Parliament for Marlborough in 1661 and entered Gray's Inn in 1666. He succeeded his nephew as the 4th Duke of Somerset in 1671.[1]

He spent the last two separated from his wife after she petitioned the King concerning his behaviour before he died in 1675, childless.[2] He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his cousin, Francis Seymour. The Marquessate of Hertford became extinct on his death.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Ferris, John P. "SEYMOUR, Lord John (c.1633-75)". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b Tomlinson, Howard (29 May 2014). "Seymour [née Alston; other married names Grimston; Hare], Sarah, duchess of Somerset (1631–1692), benefactor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/106715. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Somerset, Earls and Dukes of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 385.
Honorary titles Preceded byThe Duke of Ormonde Lord Lieutenant of Somerset 1672–1675 Succeeded byThe Earl of Winchilsea Preceded byThe Marquess of Worcester Custos Rotulorum of Somerset 1672–1675 Succeeded byThe Viscount Fitzhardinge Preceded byThe Earl of Essex Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire 1672–1675 Succeeded byThe 7th Earl of Pembroke Preceded byThe 6th Earl of Pembroke Custos Rotulorum of Wiltshire 1674–1675 Peerage of England Preceded byWilliam Seymour Duke of Somerset 1671–1675 Succeeded byFrancis Seymour Marquess of Hertford 1671–1675 Extinct


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