Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort

Charles Noel Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort (12 September 1709 – 28 October 1756) was the younger son of Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, and his second wife, Rachel Noel. Because his brother had no issue, on 24 February 1746, on his brother's death, he succeeded him and became 4th Duke of Beaufort, 12th Lord Herbert, and Marquess of Worcester. He held the Doctor of Civil Law degree from Oxford.

On 1 May 1740, he married Elizabeth Berkeley, sister of Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt. Elizabeth died on 9 April 1799. The couple had one son and five daughters:

1. Lady Anne Somerset (11 March 1741 – 18 May 1763), married Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton on 13 September 1759 and had issue
2. Lady Elizabeth Somerset (12 March 1742 – 7 May 1760)
3. Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744–1803), his heir and successor
4. Lady Rachel Somerset (August 1746 – May 1747)
5. Lady Mary Isabella Somerset (1 August 1756 – 2 September 1831), married Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland on 26 December 1775 and had issue
6. Lady Henrietta Somerset (26 April 1748 – 24 July 1770), married Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet on 6 April 1769, without issue

The 4th Duke of Beaufort is buried at St Michael and All Angels Church, Badminton.

References

• Burkes' Peerage (1939 edition)
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs