Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke Of Beaufort

Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, KG, PC (2 April 1684 – 24 May 1714), was an English peer and politician. He was born at Monmouth Castle and was the only son of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, and Rebecca Child. His early titles included Earl of Glamorgan until 1698, and Marquess of Worcester from 1698 until his grandfather’s death on 21 January 1700, when he inherited the dukedom and became the 2nd Duke of Beaufort.

His familial lineage links him to notable noble families. His father was Charles Somerset, and his mother was Rebecca Child. The dukedom was passed to him upon the death of his grandfather, thus assuming the title at a young age.

In August 1702, the duke hosted Queen Anne and the Prince Consort at Badminton, showcasing a display of grandeur. Initially, he maintained a distance from public political affairs. However, his stance shifted after the fall of the Duke of Sunderland, which led to the collapse of the Whig Junto in 1710. It is recorded that he remarked to Queen Anne that he could at last call her a queen in reality, indicative of his political alignment and supportive attitude towards the monarch.

A supporter of Tory principles, the duke encountered some opposition from Jonathan Swift but was nonetheless admitted to the "Brothers’ Club" on 21 February 1711. His political career included being appointed captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners in 1712. Later that year, in October 1712, he was invested as a Knight of the Garter.

Henry Somerset died at the age of thirty on 24 May 1714. He was succeeded by his son, Henry Somerset, who became the 3rd Duke of Beaufort. The 2nd Duke was interred at St Michael and All Angels Church in Badminton.

Regarding his family, the duke married three times. His first marriage was on 7 July 1702 to Lady Mary Sackville, daughter of Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset; she died on 18 June 1705, without issue. His second marriage, on 26 February 1706, was to Lady Rachel Noel, daughter of Wriothesley Baptist Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough; she died on 13 September 1709 after giving birth. His third marriage took place on 14 September 1711 at St Mary’s Church, Wimbledon, to Lady Mary Osborne, daughter of Peregrine Osborne, 2nd Duke of Leeds; she died on 4 February 1722. By his second wife, he had two sons: Henry Somerset, who became the 3rd Duke of Beaufort, and Charles Noel Somerset, who later succeeded his brother as the 4th Duke of Beaufort.

This biography draws upon the public domain text from the "Dictionary of National Biography," published by Smith, Elder & Co. between 1885 and 1900.