Lady Eleanor Brandon

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Lady Eleanor Brandon (1519 - September 27, 1547) was the third child and second daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, former queen consort of France. She was a younger sister of Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln and Lady Frances Brandon.

Her paternal grandparents were Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Her maternal grandparents were Henry VII of England and his queen consort Elizabeth of York.

Her maternal uncles included Arthur, Prince of Wales, Henry VIII of England and Edmund Tudor, Duke of Somerset. Her maternal aunts included Margaret Tudor, Elizabeth Tudor and Katherine Tudor.

[edit] Countess of Cumberland

Eleanor was a member of the Tudor dynasty and therefore her marriage would advance the political ambitions of any given husband. In 1533, her father agreed to her engagement to Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland.

Her new fiancé was a son of Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland and Margaret Percy. His maternal grandparents were Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland and Catherine Spencer.

His maternal grandfather was a son of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland and Maud Herbert, Countess of Northumberland. His maternal grandmother was a daughter of Sir Robert Spencer and Eleanor Beaufort. Eleanor was a daughter of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and Eleanor Beauchamp. She was a granddaughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Elizabeth Berkeley.

In January, 1536, Eleanor was designated the chief mourner for the funeral service of Catherine of Aragon, first Queen consort of Henry VIII , at Peterborough Cathedral.

She married her fiancé in June, 1537 at latest. They were parents of three children:

• Lady Margaret Clifford (1540 - September 28, 1596). She was consort to Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby.
• Henry Clifford. Died an infant.
• Charles Clifford. Died an infant.

[edit] Prospects of succeeding to the throne

The Third Succession Act of March 23, 1544, defined that Eleanor was in line to succeed her maternal uncle Henry VIII. She was eighth-in-line for the throne following:

• Prince Edward Tudor, her first cousin.
• Lady Mary Tudor, her first cousin.
• Lady Elizabeth Tudor, her first cousin.
• Lady Frances Brandon, her elder sister.
• Lady Jane Grey, her eldest niece.
• Lady Catherine Grey, her second niece.
• Lady Mary Grey, her third niece.

Henry VIII died on January 28, 1547. Prince Edward became King Edward VI. Lady Eleanor was the seventh-in-line for the throne. But she died on September 27 of the same year. Her place in line was taken by her daughter.

Her husband was later remarried to Anne Dacre (c. 1521 - July, 1581). Anne was a daughter of William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre (April 29, 1500 - November 18, 1563) and Elizabeth Talbot. Her maternal grandparents were George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and Anne Hastings. Cumberland and his second wife were parents to six more children.