John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset
The Duke of Somerset | |
|---|---|
 John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset | |
| Duke of Somerset | |
| Tenure | 1671–1675 |
| Predecessor | William Seymour |
| Successor | Francis Seymour |
| Born | John Seymour born 1646 |
| Died | 29 April 1675 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sarah Alston (m. 1656) |
| Father | William Seymour |
| Mother | Frances Devereux |
John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset and 3rd Marquess of Hertford (before 1646 – 29 April 1675) was an English peer and MP.
Life[edit]
| Restoration of Marquis of Hertford Act 1660 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for the restoring of the Marquis of Hertford to the Dukedom of Somersett. |
| Citation | 12 Cha. 2. c. 10 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 13 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[edit]
- ^ a b Ferris, John P. "SEYMOUR, Lord John (c.1633-75)". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ 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.)
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 385.
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