General Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, styled Earl of Hertford until 1748, of Petworth House in Sussex, was a British soldier, politician and landowner.
Background
Seymour was the only son of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset by his first wife, the heiress Lady Elizabeth Percy, deemed Baroness Percy in her own right, the only surviving child of Joceline Percy, 11th and last Earl of Northumberland.
Career
Seymour was returned to Parliament for Marlborough in 1705, a seat he held until 1708, and then represented Northumberland until 1722. From 1740 to 1750 he was Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards, then known variously as "Seymour"s / Earl of Hertford"s / Duke of Somerset"s Regiment". He was Lord-Lieutenant of Sussex from 1706 to 1750 and Custos Rotulorum of Wiltshire from 1726 to 1750.
In 1737 he was appointed Governor of Minorca, a post he held until 1742, and then served as Governor of Guernsey until 1750.
In 1748 he succeeded his father in the dukedom. The Duke"s only son Lord Beauchamp died unmarried in 1744, aged 19 (see below).
In 1713, Somerset married Frances Thynne, daughter of Henry Thynne (1675–1708) and granddaughter of Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth. This Thomas Thynne was the first cousin of "Tom of ten thousand", who had been the second husband of Algernon"s own mother, Elizabeth.
Somerset and Frances had two children:
George Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp (11 September 1725 – 11 September 1744), predeceased his father, unmarried.
Algernon died in 1750 and was buried in the Northumberland Vault, within Westminster Abbey. He was one of the richest landowners in England, but as he died with no surviving son his estates were split after his death. Later dukes of Somerset lived at Maiden Bradley, a far more modest estate than those already mentioned, and for a short while at Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon and at Berry Pomeroy, Devon.
Membership
1st Parliament of Great Britain. 2nd Parliament of Great Britain. 3rd Parliament of Great Britain.
4th Parliament of Great Britain.
5th Parliament of Great Britain.