Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort
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Captain Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort KG PC (February 1, 1824 – April 30, 1899) was a British peer, soldier and politician, the son of Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort.
Somerset was educated at Eton College. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington in 1842 and Aide-de-Camp to Viscount Hardinge between 1842 and 1846. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in 1843 in the service of the 1st Life Guards and Captain in 1847, in the service of the 7th Dragoons.
Somerset was Conservative Member of Parliament for East Gloucestershire between 1846 and 1853, High Steward of Bristol between 1854 and 1899 and Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire between 1867 and 1899. He held the office of Master of the Horse between 1858 and 1859 and between 1866 and 1868, was invested as a Privy Counsellor on 26 February 1858 and as a Knight of the Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 19 March 1867.
He conceived and planned the Badminton Library series of sporting books, the publication of which began in 1885 with a volume on Hunting, and acted as its overseeing editor.
Somerset married Lady Georgiana Charlotte Curzon (1825–1906), daughter of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe, on 3 July 1845. They had five children:
- Henry Adelbert Wellington FitzRoy Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort (1847–1924), married Louise Emily Harford and had children.
- Lord Henry Richard Charles Somerset (1849–1932), married Lady Isabella Caroline Cocks and had children.
- Major Lord Henry Arthur George Somerset (1851–1926), died unmarried.
- Major Lord Henry Edward Brudenell Somerset (1853–1897), married Fanny Julia Dixie and had children.
- Blanche Elizabeth Adelaide Somerset (c. 1854–1897), married John Beresford, 5th Marquess of Waterford and had children.
Somerset died in 1899, aged 75 at Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire, from gout and was buried on 5 May 1899 at Badminton House.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Christopher Codrington and Hon. Francis Charteris |
Member of Parliament for East Gloucestershire with Sir Christopher Codrington 1834-64 1847–1854 |
Succeeded by Sir Christopher Codrington and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of Wellington |
Master of the Horse 1858–1859 |
Succeeded by The Marquess of Ailesbury |
| Preceded by The Marquess of Ailesbury |
Master of the Horse 1866–1868 |
|
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Henry Somerset |
Duke of Beaufort 1853–1899 |
Succeeded by Henry Somerset |
