![COA of Edward, 2nd Marquess of Worcester](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/COA_of_Edward%2C_2nd_Marquess_of_Worcester.jpg)
Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (9 March 1602 or 9 March 16033 April 1667),
styled Lord Herbert of Raglan from 1628 to 1644, was an English nobleman involved in
royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...
politics, and an inventor.
While
Earl of Glamorgan
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
, he was sent by
Charles I Charles I may refer to:
Kings and emperors
* Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings
* Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily
* Charles I of ...
to negotiate a peace treaty and alliance with the leadership of the
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
Irish Confederacy
Confederate Ireland, also referred to as the Irish Catholic Confederation, was a period of Irish Catholic self-government between 1642 and 1649, during the Eleven Years' War. Formed by Catholic aristocrats, landed gentry, clergy and military ...
. He enjoyed some success, but the agreement quickly broke down. He then joined the Confederates, and was appointed the commander of their
Munster Army.
In 1655 he wrote ''The Century of Inventions'', detailing more than 100 inventions, including a device that would have been one of the earliest
steam engines.
Origins
He was the son of
Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester
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 Portuga ...
by his wife Anne Russell, a daughter of John Russell, Baron Russell, eldest son and
heir apparent
An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
of
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford.
Career
Edward Somerset was brought up as a Roman Catholic in
Monmouthshire. He graduated from
Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...
, England, in 1627 with a
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Th ...
(MA) degree. In his day he was one of the richest lords in England, funding his experiments, later self-funding his military endeavours, and sending large amounts of money to
King Charles I during the
English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...
. He was a
Cavalier
The term Cavalier () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of King Charles I and his son Charles II of England during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration (1642 – ) ...
who supported the King in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, where he raised a regiment of horse for him. His campaigning in the West of England and in Wales, however, did not go well. After a month with his force of over 2,000 troops encamped at
Highnam
Highnam is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester. It is three miles northwest of the city on the A40, on the way to Ross, west of Alney Island and Over Bridge. It is connected by Segregated Bicycle Paths via ...
, outside
Gloucester
Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...
, in March 1643 Herbert left them and travelled to meet the king at
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
. In his absence the entire force surrendered without any exchange of fire, earning it the title "The Mushroom Army" (they appeared and disappeared very quickly). He was rewarded in 1644, however, with a peerage, being created Earl of Glamorgan and Baron Beaufort of
Caldecote.
["Edward [Somerset], 2nd Marquess of Worcester" at cracroftspeerage.co.uk]
/ref> Due to irregularities in the letters patent, these titles were not recognised after the Restoration
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
* Restoration ecology
...
.
Sent to Ireland, he made a false move in concluding a treaty, in great secrecy, on behalf of Charles that was considered to concede too much to the Catholics there; he himself was a Catholic. In extricating himself from that position, he became a close ally of Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
Giovanni Battista Rinuccini (1592–1653) was an Italian Roman Catholic archbishop in the mid-seventeenth century. He was a noted legal scholar and became chamberlain to Pope Gregory XV. In 1625 Pope Urban VIII made him the Archbishop of Fermo ...
, and a potential replacement for James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde as royalist leader. His plans to bring Irish troops over to England were overtaken by events, and he left for France with George Leyburn
George Leyburn (1597 – 29 December 1677) was an English Catholic priest, who became President of the English College, Douai.
Life
From an ancient Westmoreland family, Leyburn was a great-grandson of Sir James Leyburn, MP for Westmorland under ...
.[''Dictionary of National Biography'', article under Somerset, Edward.] He succeeded his father as Marquess of Worcester
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman w ...
in 1646.
He was formally banished in 1649, but after four years in Paris returned to England in 1653. He was discovered, charged with high treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
and sent to the Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...
; he was treated leniently by the Council of State
A Council of State is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head o ...
, and released on bail in 1654.[ That year he took up again his interest in engineering and inventions, leasing a house at ]Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
where his Dutch or German technician Kaspar Kalthoff could work. After the Restoration
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
* Restoration ecology
...
his estates were restored, but he largely avoided politics, and did not press his claims to the various other titles of nobility.
Works
In 1655 he authored a book which consisted of textual descriptions of 100 separate inventions. It was eventually printed in 1663 and included a device described as his "Water-commanding Engine". Constructed from the barrel of a cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
, it was an obvious prototype design for what would later become the steam engine, and clearly anticipated the power and applications of that machine.
In 1663 Samuel Sorbière visited Edward's Vauxhall workshop and saw and described the "hydraulic machine which the Marquis of Worcester has invented." It was designed for purposes of irrigation, and would "raise to the height of forty feet, by the strength of one man and in the space of one minute of time, four large buckets of water." Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Tuscany, visited it in 1669, when a similar description was given. Robert Hooke, however, described it as "one of the perpetual motion fallacies."
Edward suggested that when he died, a model of his engine should be buried with him:
"I call this a Semi Omnipotent Engine, and do intend that a model thereof be buried with me."
Marriage and children
He married twice:
*Firstly in 1628 to Elizabeth Dormer (died 31 May 1635), daughter of Sir William Dormer and Alice Molyneux, and sister of Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon
Sir Robert Dormer of Wing, 2nd Baronet, 1st Earl of Carnarvon, 1st Viscount Ascott, 2nd Baron Dormer of Wing r Wenge'' (c. 1610 – 20 September 1643) was an English peer. He was the son of Sir William Dormer, and thus a grandson of Robert Dor ...
, by whom he had one son and two daughters:
** Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, his heir and successor, who was created Duke of Beaufort;
**Lady Anne Somerset (c. 1631–1662), who married Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk
Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk (12 July 162813 January 1684) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the second son of Henry Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel, and Lady Elizabeth Stuart. He succeeded his brother Thomas Howard, 5th Duke of ...
, and had issue;
** Lady Elizabeth Somerset (before 16351691), who married William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis
William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis, PC (16262 June 1696) was an English nobleman, best remembered for his suffering during the Popish Plot. He succeeded his father as 3rd Baron Powis in 1667 and was created Earl of Powis in 1674 by King C ...
, and had issue.
*Secondly in 1639 he married Lady Margareta O'Brien (died 26 July 1681), daughter of Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond PC (Ire) (1588–1639), styled Lord Ibrickane until 1624, was summoned to the House of Lords of the Irish Parliament of 1613–1615.
Birth and origins
Henry was born the eldest son of Donogh O'Brien and ...
and Mary Brereton, by whom he had one daughter:
**Lady Mary Somerset, died young.
Post Death
After his death his widow remarried Donough Kearney, who was charged with treason during the Popish Plot, but acquitted.
Almost 200 years after his death, in 1861, Victorian patent inspector Bennet Woodcroft
Bennet Woodcroft FRS (20 December 1803 – 7 February 1879) was an English textile manufacturer, industrial archaeologist, pioneer of marine propulsion, a leading figure in patent reform and the first clerk to the commissioners of patents.
B ...
attempted to locate the grave and the model steam engine which the Marquis stated should be buried with him. Woodcroft hoped, if the model was located, that "Englishmen will be gratified to find that their country has contributed even more than was supposed to the advancement of civilisation".
Woodcroft sought permission from the then Duke of Beaufort (successor to the Marquis) to examine remains in the Somerset crypt within St Cadoc's Church, Raglan
St Cadoc's Church, Raglan, Monmouthshire, south east Wales, is the parish church of the village of Raglan. The church is situated at a cross-roads in the centre of the village. Built originally by the Clare and Bluet families in the thirteenth ...
, in search of the model,Alexander Armstrong's Who Do You Think You Are at bbc.co.uk
/ref> and the Duke granted permission on the basis that Woodcroft also obtained ecclesiastical permission.
Archive documents indicate ecclesiastical permission was not obtained, yet Woodcroft and a party locked themselves inside the church on 4 January 1861, and opened the crypt. They found 7 coffins, as documented when the crypt had previously been opened.
They opened coffin 7, which had an inscription indicating this was the Marquis' coffin, their report stating:
... the lead on the outside was dry and well preserved, and when a part of it had been cut and rolled back some holes were made with the bit and brace in the elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus ''Ulmus'' in the plant family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting the temperate and tropical-montane regions of North ...
wood cover, which allowed a few smart blows with the chisel to take out a small piece of wood.
The foot of the coffin was opened and the 6 or 7 layers of "strong linen" were cut open to reveal "two legs inside with skin very white and not very much shrunken". Outside the linen, they found matter "exactly like the slush in an Irish bog and emitting a strong but not pungent or disagreeable odour". The head of the coffin was then opened, although "out of respect for the remains of the mighty dead we did not open the cloth over the face".
They then moved their attention to coffin 3, which had a plaque resting (but not fixed) on it identifying it as Lady Granville's coffin, in the hope that the model could be found there. "The lead was therefore cut and folded back and underneath there was found a carefully placed ceiling of beautifully glass-like green wax which seemed quite untouched by decay." They then cut out a section of wood and saw "that the two breasts of a female lying in state confirmed the supposition that the plate dentifying this as Lady Granville's coffinwas correctly placed on this coffin". The party then cut open the head covering and "the mouth was soon disclosed and five or six long and rather misshapen teeth appeared. The lower jaw was much separated from the other and I raised it in order to search carefully below for any necklace or other ornament which might be buried there". The model was not located in this coffin. This last action, searching for a "necklace or other ornament", is when the expedition shifted from a legally dubious search for a model steam engine, to a clearly illegal desecration of human remains, as having identified this coffin contained a female body and no model, there was no legitimate reason to investigate further.
They then returned to coffin 7, with their report stating:
... making a long cut through the stiff close shroud and inserting the axe point in the edge we lifted up the naked body of the renowned Marquis of Worcester. The hands were crossed over the lower part of the stomach, the right hand being uppermost and bound to the other with a lanyard of yarn rope. The skin and flesh were soft and a little shrunken and the nails were long, beautifully shaped and perfectly preserved. There was a good deal of reddish hair on the body. No sign of any substance metal wood or other hard matter being in the coffin could be observed. I was determined to make a thorough search when I was about it and therefore sending for a large screwdriver which was nearly two feet long I probed carefully round the whole body at intervals of about an inch to see if under any part or concealed by the dark mud like matter there might haply be any small metallic ring to indicate the model we were in search of.>
Having failed to find the model in either coffin, they closed the coffins "as well as we could arrange them, and stopped till the great stone was placed on the vault and the loose earth above was filled in".
Ancestry
Notes
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worcester, Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess Of
1600s births
1667 deaths
Deputy Lieutenants of Monmouthshire
Marquesses of Worcester
E
English Roman Catholics
English inventors
*08