GLOUCESTER, THOMAS OF WOODSTOCK, DUKE OF 0355-1397), seventh and youngest son of the English king Edward III., was born at Woodstock on Jan. 7, Having married Eleanor (d. 1399), daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, Essex and Northampton (d. Thomas became constable of England, and was made earl of Buckingham by his nephew, Richard II., at the coronation in July He helped to defend the English coasts against the attacks of the French and Castilians, led an army through northern and central France, and unsuccessfully besieged Nantes.
Returning to England early in 1381, Buckingham found that his brother, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, had married his wife's sister, Mary Bohun, to his own son, Henry, afterwards King Henry IV. The relations between the brothers, already somewhat strained, were not improved by this proceeding. After taking some part in crushing the rising of the peasants in 138r, Buckingham became more friendly with John of Gaunt; and while marching with the king into Scotland in 1385 was created duke of Gloucester. Lancaster having left the country, Gloucester headed the party opposed to the royal advisers, Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk and Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, whose recent elevation to the dignity of duke of Ireland had aroused profound discontent. Gloucester forced on the dismissal and impeachment of Suffolk; was a member of the commission appointed in 1386 to reform the kingdom and the royal household ; and took up arms when Richard began proceedings against the commissioners. After defeating Vere at Radcot in December 1387 the duke and his associates entered London to find the king powerless in their hands. Gloucester was restrained by his colleagues from deposing the king; but, as the leader of the "lords appellant" in the "Merci less Parliament," (February 1388) , he took a savage revenge upon his enemies.
In 1396 uncle and nephew were again at variance. Gloucester disliked the peace with France and Richard's second marriage with Isabella of France ; it was asserted that the duke was plotting to seize the king. On July 11, 1397 he was arrested by the king himself at his residence, Pleshey castle, Essex. He was taken at once to Calais, and it is probable that he was murdered by order of the king on Sept. 9 following. Gloucester had one son, Hum phrey (c. 1381-1399), who died unmarried, and four daughters, the most notable of whom was Anne (c. 1380-1438), who was suc cessively the wife of Thomas, 3rd earl of Stafford, Edmund, 5th earl of Stafford and William Bourchier, count of Eu. Gloucester is supposed to have written L'Ordonnance d'Angleterre pour le camp a l'outrance, ou gaige de bataille.