Born the eldest son of Lord Charles Somerset, Somerset was commissioned a cornet on 5 December 1811 and promoted to lieutenant on 30 December 1812. Soon after his marriage, Somerset proceeded to the Cape Colony, where his father was governor, and served with the Cape Mounted Rifles throughout the Xhosa Wars.
On 6 October 1815, he was made a captain. On 25 March 1823, he was made major, and on 17 July 1824, lieutenant-colonel. In 1846, he defeated the Xhosa on the Gwangu, and was promoted major-general on 11 November 1851.
At the conclusion of the 8th Xhosa War in 1853, he was made a Knight Commander of the Bath for his services, and left the Cape to go on the staff of the Bombay Army.
He served as the Commander-in-chief of the Bombay Army from 26 March 1855 to March 1860, and then returned to England. On 29 January 1857 he was promoted lieutenant-general.
He died in Gibraltar in 1862. Leonora Louisa Somerset (d 28 September 1913), who was married to Lieutenant-General
Montague Cholmeley Johnstone (3 March 1804 – 22 September 1874) on 31 December 1844, with whom she had nine children (Charles Mosley, editor, Burke"s Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, volume 1, page 221).
Colonel Charles Henry Somerset (1819 – 4 November 1863), who married Christina Emma Thompson in 1848 and had issue. Colonel Henry George Edward Somerset (28 December 1829 – 5 April 1920), who married Harriette Lade Coast on 15 October 1853 and had issue.
FitzRoy MacLean Henry Somerset (1 November 1839 – 29 June 1907), who married Ellen Amelia Arnot on 18 July 1867 and had issue.
Elizabeth Harriet Frances Somerset (d 9 November 1869). Who married on 21 September 1841 Major-General Peter Maclean
Somerset stood as godfather to Henry Somerset Todd, who, in turn, transmitted the Somerset name to West. Somerset Maugham.
