John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset, Earl of Dorset (b. 1441 – d. 4 May 1471) was a scion of the Beaufort family, who fought for the Lancastrians in the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These wars were fought bet ...

Origins

He was the third son of

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, 4th Earl of Somerset, 1st Earl of Dorset, 1st Marquess of Dorset styled 1st Count of Mortain, KG (140622 May 1455), was an English nobleman and an important figure during the Hundred Years' War. His rival ...

and his wife,

Lady Eleanor Beauchamp Lady Eleanor Beauchamp, Baroness de Ros and Duchess of Somerset (September 1408 – 6 March 1467) was the second daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Elizabeth de Berkeley, daughter of Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkele ...

, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick.

Wars of the Roses

His father was killed in 1455 at the

First Battle of St Albans The First Battle of St Albans, fought on 22 May 1455 at St Albans, 22 miles (35 km) north of London, traditionally marks the beginning of the Wars of the Roses in England. Richard, Duke of York, and his allies, the Neville earls of Salisb ...

.When his eldest brother,

Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (26 January 143615 May 1464) was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. He is sometimes numbered the 2nd Duke of Somerset, because the title was re-created for his ...

, was killed fighting for Lancaster in 1464 at the

Battle of Hexham The Battle of Hexham, 15 May 1464, marked the end of significant Lancastrian resistance in the north of England during the early part of the reign of Edward IV. The battle was fought near the town of Hexham in Northumberland. John Neville, ...

, the next brother, Edmund, succeeded to the Dukedom, and John became "

Marquess of Dorset The title Marquess of Dorset has been created three times in the Peerage of England. It was first created in 1397 for John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, but he lost the title two years later. It was then created in 1442 for Edmund Beaufort, 1st ...

" and "

Earl of Dorset Earl of Dorset is a title that has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. Some of its holders have at various times also held the rank of marquess and, from 1720, duke. A possible first creation is not well documented. Abou ...

", courtesy titles granted to the Beaufort heir-apparent or heir-presumptive. These titles were not recognized by King Edward IV, of the House of York. John had been in exile since 1461, first in Burgundy and then

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. When Henry VI of Lancaster reclaimed the throne in October 1470, John returned with his brother Edmund. But a few months later, Henry was driven from the throne again, and the Lancastrians were on the run. John was killed in the

Battle of Tewkesbury The Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses in England. King Edward IV and his forces loyal to the House of York completely defeated those of the rival House of Lancaster. ...

on 4 May 1471, while fighting beside Edmund, who was captured and beheaded two days later. John left behind no issue and was never married. With the death of John and Edmund, the legitimate male line of the Beauforts ended.Harriss, G.L. ''Cardinal Beaufort: A Study of Lancastrian Ascendancy and Decline''. Oxford: Clarendon, 1988.

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorset, John Beaufort, Marquess of 1441 births 1471 deaths John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset People of the Wars of the Roses Younger sons of dukes