| Lord Charles Somerset PC |
|
|---|---|
| Governor of the Cape Colony | |
| In office 1814–1826 |
|
| Monarch | George III George IV |
| Preceded by | John Cradock |
| Succeeded by | Richard Bourke (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 December 1767 |
| Died | 18 February 1831 |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Lady Elizabeth Courtenay (d. 1815) Lady Mary Poulett (1788-1860) |
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC (2 December 1767 – 18 February 1831) was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826.
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Somerset was the second son of Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, and Elizabeth, daughter of Admiral the Hon. Edward Boscawen. He was the brother of Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort, General Lord Edward Somerset, Lord Arthur Somerset and Field Marshal FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan.
Somersat sat as Member of Parliament for Scarborough between 1796 and 1802 and for Monmouth Boroughs between 1802 and 1813. He served as Comptroller of the Household between 1797 and 1804 and as Joint Paymaster of the Forces between 1804 and 1806 and 1807 and 1813 and was sworn of the Privy Council on 26 April 1797. in 1814 he was appointed Governor of the Cape Colony, a post he held until 1826. The towns of Somerset West and Somerset East in South Africa are named after him.
Somerset married firstly Lady Elizabeth Courtenay (d. 1815), daughter of the 8th Earl of Devon, in June 1788. They had six children:
After the death of Lady Elizabeth, he married secondly Lady Mary Poulett, daughter of the 4th Earl Poulett, on August 9, 1821. They had three children:
Somerset died in February 1831, aged 63. His second wife died in June 1860, aged 72.