Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times 1654-67, when he succeeded his father as 3rd Marquess of Worcester. He was styled Lord Herbert 1644 - 3 April 1667. The Dukedom of Beaufort was bestowed upon him by King Charles II in 1682. And it was that year that he bought Beaufort House.
His wife Mary, Duchess of Beaufort (1630 – 1715) was a gardener and botanist. Living at Beaufort House made her a near neighbour of Hans Sloane at Chelsea Manor House. She bequeathed to him her herbarium, in twelve volumes, 'gathered and dried by order of Mary Duchess of Beaufort'. We note this because Sloane was the last owner of Beaufort House, acquiring it in 1740.
In 1694 the Duke was living in great seclusion in Beaufort House, taking the waters, and absenting himself from court. Suspected of complicity in a plot to assassinate King William III, his house was searched in February 1696, but nothing was found to compromise him.
Died at his country home, Badminton, Gloucestershire.
His eldest son, Charles (1660 - 1698), predeceased him but did have a son, Henry (1684 - 1714) who, aged 16 became the 2nd Duke of Beaufort. And his eldest son, Henry Scudamore (1707 - 1745, HS), became the 3rd Duke, aged 7.
HS's private life makes an interesting read. When he married Frances Scudamore he added her name to his (often done when the wife brings significant funds to the marriage, see William Burdett-Coutts). The marriage was not a success and the parties went to court: he accused her of adultery, she accused him of impotence so, before court-appointed examiners he demonstrated that his equipment was in working order. He was granted a divorce in 1743. Frances married again and again her husband added her name to his, so perhaps she managed to take the money with her when she left.
Scudamore's illegitimate daughter married Thomas Gainsborough but he had no legitimate children which meant the dukedom transferred to his younger brother, Charles.
Beaufort House stayed in the family until 1720, during HS's dukedom.
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