Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (25 December 1660 – 13 July 1698) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the eldest surviving son of

Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, KG, PC (162921 January 1700) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1667, when he succeeded his father as 3rd Marquess of Worcester. He was styled Lord H ...

and

Mary Capell Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

, and was styled Lord Herbert of Raglan from 1667 until 1682 and Marquess of Worcester thereafter. He attended

Christ Church, Oxford University Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is unique ...

, matriculated in 1677 and was awarded an MA in 1682.

Career

He was elected the youngest ever (aged 12)

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathemat ...

in June 1673. He was Commissioner for Assessment for Brecon from 1677 to 1679) and for Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Monmouth and Brecon from 1689 to 1690. In 1681 he travelled to the Netherlands. He was appointed Colonel of Militia for Bristol (1682–1685) and was a Member of the

Council of Wales and the Marches The Court of the Council in the Dominion and Principality of Wales, and the Marches of the same, commonly called the Council of Wales and the Marches () or the Council of the Marches, was a regional administrative body based in Ludlow Castle wi ...

] (1682–1689) under his father as Lord President. He commanded the Glamorgan Militia in 1684 when his father inspected them. Bryn Owen, ''History of the Welsh Militia and Volunteer Corps 1757–1908'', Vol 2: ''The Glamorgan Regiments of Militia'', Caernarfon: Palace Books, 1990, ISBN 1-871904-01-3, p. 21. He was appointed Custos Rotulorum of Radnorshire (1682–1689) and Deputy Lieutenant of Monmouthshire (1683–1687), Wiltshire (1683–1688) and Gloucestershire (1685–1687). He was a Member of the Committee of the

Honourable East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

(1683–1691). He was Colonel of a regiment of foot (1685–1687) and MP for Monmouthshire (1685–1687 and 1689–1695).

Private life

On 6 June 1682, he married Rebecca Child, who was the daughter of Sir Josiah Child of Wanstead, 1st Baronet and aunt of

Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney (5 February 1680 – March 1750), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1708 and 1734. Initially a Tory, he switched to supporting the Whigs after 1715. He held no Office of State, ...

. They had at least two children: #

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 the only son of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, and Rebecca Child. He was styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1698, ...

, his heir and his father's successor; and # Lady Henrietta Somerset, who was born on 27 August 1690, died on 9 August 1726 and was married to

Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Grafton Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, (25 October 1683 – 6 May 1757) was an Irish and English politician. Early life He was the only child and heir of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (1663–1690) (an illegitimate son of King Charles ...

on 30 April 1713, with whom she had four sons and three daughters. After his death in a coach accident in 1698 he was buried in Raglan. Charles predeceased his father and, on the duke's death, the dukedom passed to Charles's son

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

. His widow remarried the Hon John Granville in 1703.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Worcester, Charles Somerset, Marquess Of 1660 births 1698 deaths Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford British courtesy marquesses Devonshire Regiment officers Gloucestershire Militia officers Glamorgan Militia officers Heirs apparent who never acceded C Fellows of the Royal Society Deputy Lieutenants of Monmouthshire Deputy Lieutenants of Wiltshire Deputy Lieutenants of Gloucestershire English MPs 1661–1679 English MPs 1679 English MPs 1680–1681 English MPs 1681 English MPs 1685–1687 English MPs 1689–1690 English MPs 1690–1695