Bernard Edward Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk, (21 November 1765 – 16 March 1842) was a

British peer The peerages in the United Kingdom are a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks, and forming a constituent part of the British honours system. The term '' peerage'' can be used both coll ...

Early life

Howard was the son of Henry Howard (1713–1787) by his wife Juliana Molyneux, daughter of Sir William Molyneux, 6th Baronet (died 1781), of Teversall, Nottinghamshire, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire 1737.

Career

Bernard Howard succeeded to the title of

Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. The dukes ...

in 1815 upon the death of his cousin

Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk (15 March 1746 – 16 December 1815), styled Earl of Surrey from 1777 to 1786, was a British nobleman, peer, and politician. He was the son of Charles Howard, 10th Duke of Norfolk and Catherine Brockho ...

. An ardent

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

, like most of his family, he strongly supported

Catholic Emancipation Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, and later the combined United Kingdom in the late 18th century and early 19th century, that involved reducing and removing many of the restricti ...

, and gave offence to his Protestant neighbours by giving a banquet to celebrate the passage of the

Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 The Catholic Relief Act 1829, also known as the Catholic Emancipation Act 1829, was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1829. It was the culmination of the process of Catholic emancipation throughout the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...

in 1803. In 1834, the Duke of Norfolk was invested by King

William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded h ...

into the

Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George C ...

Personal life

On 23 April 1789, he married Lady Elizabeth Belasyse (1770–1819), daughter of

Henry Belasyse, 2nd Earl Fauconberg Henry Belasyse, 2nd Earl Fauconberg (13 April 1742 – 23 March 1802) was a British politician and peer. Family Fauconberg was the son of Thomas Belasyse, 1st Earl Fauconberg and Catherine Betham. Career He served as the Member of Parliament fo ...

and the former Charlotte Lamb. Before the couple divorced five years later in May 1794, they were the parents of: *

Henry Howard, 13th Duke of Norfolk Henry Charles Howard, 13th Duke of Norfolk, (12 August 179118 February 1856), styled Earl of Surrey between 1815 and 1842, was a British Whig politician and peer. Background Norfolk was the son of Bernard Edward Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk, ...

(1791–1856), who married Lady Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower (1788–1870), who was the eldest daughter of

George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland George Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland KG, PC (9 January 175819 July 1833), known as Viscount Trentham from 1758 to 1786, as Earl Gower from 1786 to 1803 and as the Marquess of Stafford from 1803 to 1833, was an English politi ...

and Lady Elizabeth Sutherland, ''

suo jure ''Suo jure'' is a Latin phrase, used in English to mean 'in his own right' or 'in her own right'. In most nobility-related contexts, it means 'in her own right', since in those situations the phrase is normally used of women; in practice, especi ...

'' Countess of Sutherland (only daughter of

William Sutherland, 18th Earl of Sutherland William Sutherland, 18th Earl of Sutherland (1735–1766) was a Scottish hereditary peer. Life He was born on 28 May 1735 the son of William Sutherland, 17th Earl of Sutherland and his wife Lady Elizabeth Wemyss. In 1759 as a Captain in the ...

). She served as

Lady of the Bedchamber Lady of the Bedchamber is the title of a lady-in-waiting holding the official position of personal attendant on a British queen regnant or queen consort. The position is traditionally held by the wife of a peer. They are ranked between the Mis ...

from 1842 to 1843. He died in 1842 at the age of 76. Upon his death, his only 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, ...

, became the 13th Duke of Norfolk. He is buried in

Fitzalan Chapel The Fitzalan Chapel is the chancel of the church of St Nicholas in the western grounds of Arundel Castle. The church of St Nicholas is one of the very few church buildings that is divided into two worship areas, a Roman Catholic area (the chanc ...

at Arundel Castle.

Family

Ancestry

Family tree

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Norfolk Norfolk, Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk, Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of English Roman Catholics Garter Knights appointed by William IV Norfolk, Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of 312 *30

306 __NOTOC__ Year 306 ( CCCVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Valerius (or, less frequently, year 105 ...

10th Earl of Norfolk *20 Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellows of the Royal Society Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom