Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter was a Lancastrian leader during the English Wars of the Roses.
Background
He was the only son of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, and his first wife, Lady Anne Stafford. He inherited the dukedom of Exeter when his father died in 1447. A great-grandson of John of Gaunt, he might have had a plausible claim to the throne after the death of Henry VI.
Career
However, he was cruel, savagely temperamental and unpredictable, and so had little support. Exeter was for a time Constable of the Tower of London, and afterwards the rack there came to be called "the Duke of Exeter"s daughter". He was a commander at the great Lancastrian victories at Wakefield and the Second Battle of Street Albans.
He was imprisoned at Wallingford Castle in 1455.
He was also a commander at the Lancastrian defeat at the Battle of Towton. He fled to Scotland after the battle, and then joined Queen Margaret in her exile in France.
During the brief period of Henry VI"s restoration he was able to regain many of his estates and posts. At the Battle of Barnet, Exeter commanded the Lancastrian left flank.
He was badly wounded and left for dead, but survived.
He "volunteered" to serve on Edward"s 1475 expedition to France. On the return voyage he fell overboard and drowned. Some say he was in fact thrown overboard at the king"s command.
She was an older sister of Edward IV and Richard III. He had one legitimate child:
Lady Anne Holland (c 1455 – between 26 August 1467 and 6 June 1474), who married Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset.
Since Henry had no legitimate male issue the disposition of his estates became a complex matter for his widow, the dowager Duchess of Exeter.