David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort
David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Robert Somerset 23 February 1928 |
| Died | 16 August 2017 (aged 89) Badminton House, Gloucestershire, England |
| Other names | David Somerset (until 1984) |
| Occupation(s) | Aristocrat, landowner, art dealer |
| Known for | 11th Duke of Beaufort, chairman of Marlborough Fine Art, hereditary keeper of Raglan Castle, President of the British Horse Society |
David Robert Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort GCC (23 February 1928 – 16 August 2017), initially known simply as David Somerset until 1984, was a distinguished English aristocrat and substantial landowner.
Renowned for his involvement in fox hunting, he held the chairmanship of Marlborough Fine Art and was notably involved in numerous disputes with hunt saboteurs. He also fulfilled the roles of Hereditary Keeper of Raglan Castle and President of the British Horse Society.
Early life
Born as the second son to Captain Henry Robert Somers FitzRoy de Vere Somerset and Bettine Violet Malcolm, David Somerset received his education at Eton College. His lineage traced directly through the male line from Edward III of England, establishing him as the foremost living representative of the House of Plantagenet via a legitimised descent. His father stood as heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Beaufort and its vast estates.
By the time he was twelve, it was evident that Henry Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort, was unlikely to produce an heir, positioning Somerset's father and elder sibling as probable successors. However, in April 1945, his older brother lost his life during the Allied advance into Germany, elevating David Somerset to likely heir at only seventeen years old.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards on 6 September 1946 and advanced to lieutenant on 1 January 1949.
Later life
Following his military service, Somerset established himself in Gloucestershire and actively engaged with the Beaufort Hunt. Upon his father's passing in 1965, it became apparent that he or one of his sons would eventually inherit the dukedom, which he formally assumed in 1984.
As Duke of Beaufort, he commanded extensive landholdings and maintained a prominent role within fox hunting circles. Known for his somewhat rakish demeanor and frequent confrontations with hunt saboteurs, he also served as Hereditary Keeper of Raglan Castle and held the presidency of the British Horse Society from 1988 to 1990. Additionally, he chaired Marlborough Fine Art. In 2008, he was ranked 581st on the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated £135 million tied up in approximately 52,000 acres. He was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1988.
Somerset represented a Conservative hereditary seat in the House of Lords from his succession in 1984 until reforms under the House of Lords Act 1999 curtailed most hereditary peerages.
In 2009, controversy arose when it emerged that he had received £281,431 from Swansea Council for a bridge spanning the River Tawe on ancestral land held by his family for centuries. This payment was necessary to facilitate access over his riverbed connecting a shopping complex to Liberty Stadium, home to Swansea City football and Ospreys rugby clubs. A council official criticized the allocation of public funds to compensate one of Britain's wealthiest estates; no response was provided by the duke's estate regarding this private arrangement.
The Duke passed away on 16 August 2017 at Badminton House in Gloucestershire at age 89.
Family
His first marriage was to Lady Caroline Jane Thynne, daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bath, on 5 July 1950 at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square. The ceremony was attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, along with other members of the royal family.
The Duchess played a key role in restoring Badminton House and its grounds and was awarded an honorary LLD by Bristol University in recognition of her charitable contributions.
Their union produced four children:
- Henry John FitzRoy Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort (born 22 May 1952); married Tracy Louise Ward—granddaughter of the 3rd Earl of Dudley—a former actress and environmental advocate. They divorced in 2018 and have two sons and one daughter.
- Lady Anne Mary Somerset (born 21 January 1955); a historian who wed Matthew Carr (1953–2011) in 1988; they had one daughter.
- Lord Edward Alexander Somerset (1 May 1958 – 4 December 2024); married Hon. Georgiana Caroline Davidson in 1982. Following his incarceration for assaulting her, they reportedly divorced. They share two children.
- Lord John Robert Somerset (born 5 November 1964), also known as Lord Johnson Somerset; formerly married to Lady Cosima Vane-Tempest-Stewart—daughter of the 9th Marquess of Londonderry—with whom he has a son and daughter.
On 2 June 2000, the Duke entered into his second marriage with Miranda Elisabeth Morley, daughter of Brigadier General Michael Frederick Morley.
Honours
- Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal) — Awarded on 10 October 1955
References
External links
- 1928 births
- 2017 deaths
- British people of French descent
- British art dealers
- 21st-century English landowners
- 21st-century British farmers
- British billionaires
- Coldstream Guards officers
- Dukes of Beaufort
- Masters of foxhounds in England
- People educated at Eton College
- People from Badminton, Gloucestershire
- Somerset family
- 20th-century English businesspeople
- Hereditary peers removed under the House of Lords Act 1999