John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset

John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset, Earl of Dorset (c. 1455 – 4 May 1471) was a scion of the Beaufort family, who fought for the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses.

He was the third son of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and his wife, Lady Eleanor Beauchamp, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. When his eldest brother, Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, was killed fighting for Lancaster in 1464 at the Battle of Hexham, the next brother, Edmund, succeeded to the Dukedom, and John became "Marquess of Dorset" and "Earl of Dorset", 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. When Henry VI of Lancaster reclaimed the throne in early 1471, John returned with his brother Edmund. But almost at once, Henry was driven from the throne again, and the Lancastrians were on the run.

John was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471, while fighting beside Edmund, who was captured and beheaded two days later. John was probably only sixteen years old when he died. He left behind no issue and was never married. With the death of John and Edmund, the legitimate male line of the Beauforts ended.^[1]

Ancestry

Ancestors of John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset

16. Edward III of England               8. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster                       17. Philippa of Hainault               4. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset                             18. Payne de Roet               9. Katherine Swynford                       2. Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset                                   20. Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent               10. Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent                       21. Joan of Kent               5. Margaret Holland                             22. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel               11. Alice Fitzalan                       23. Eleanor of Lancaster               1. John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset                                         24. Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick               12. Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick                       25. Katherine Mortimer               6. Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick                             26. William Ferrers, 3rd Baron Ferrers of Groby               13. Margaret Ferrers                       27. Margaret de Ufford               3. Lady Eleanor Beauchamp                                   28. Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley               14. Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley                       29. Elizabeth le Despenser               7. Elizabeth de Berkeley                             30. Warin de Lisle, 2nd Lord Lisle               15. Margaret de Lisle, Baroness Lisle                       31. Margaret Pipard

References

1. Harriss, G.L. Cardinal Beaufort: A Study of Lancastrian Ascendancy and Decline. Oxford: Clarendon, 1988.