EDWARD SEYMOUR, duke of Somerset (q.v.), known as the Pro tector, was the first of the line of dukes to which the holder of the title at the present day belongs, having been created Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, Co. Somerset, in 1536; earl of Hertford in and in 1547 Baron Seymour and duke of Somerset. His honours, which were entailed on the issue of his second in priority to that of his first marriage, being forfeited by attainder in 1552, Robert Carr became earl of Somerset (q.v.) in 1613, but died without male issue in 1645, when his title became extinct. A curious incident in the history of this title was the grant by Charles I. in 1644 of a commission to Edward Somerset, son of Henry, ist marquess of Worcester, empowering him to fill up certain blank patents of peerage with a promise of the title of duke of Somerset for himself. After the Restoration this instru ment was cancelled in consequence of a resolution of the House of Lords declaring it to be "in prejudice to the peers"; and the grantee, who had meantime succeeded to the marquessate of Worcester, surrendered his claim to the dukedom of Somerset in Sept. 166o. In the same month the dukedom of Somerset and
barony of Seymour were restored to WILLIAM SEYMOUR (1588 166o), great-grandson of the Protector, who in 1621 inherited the titles of earl of Hertford and Baron Beauchamp which had been granted to his grandfather Edward Seymour in 1559, and who, in 1640, had himself been created marquis of Hertford. He died in Nov. 166o, a few weeks after his restoration to the dukedom, and was succeeded by his grandson William, 3rd duke of Som erset (c. 1651-1671). As the latter died unmarried, the Somerset title devolved on John Seymour (c. 1628-1675), the 2nd duke's fifth and youngest son, at whose death without issue in 1675 the marquessate of Hertford became extinct ; his cousin Francis Sey mour (1658-1678) becoming 5th duke of Somerset.