SUFFOLK, WILLIAM DE LA POLE, DUKE OF (1396— 1450, second son of Michael de la Pole, second earl of Suffolk, was born on Oct. 16, 1396. Suffolk served in all the later French campaigns of the reign of Henry V., and in spite of his youth held high command on the marches of Normandy in 1421-22. In 1423 he joined the earl of Salisbury in Champagne, and shared his victory at Crevant. He fought under John, duke of Bedford, at Verneuil on Aug. 17, 1424, and throughout the next four years was Salisbury's principal lieutenant in the direction of the war. When Salisbury was killed before Orleans on Nov. 3, 1428, Suffolk succeeded to the command. After the siege was raised, Suffolk was defeated and taken prisoner by Jeanne d'Arc at Jargeau on June 12, 1429. He was soon ransomed, and during the next two years was again in command on the Norman frontier. He returned to England in November 1431, after over fourteen years' continuous service in the field.
Suffolk had already been employed on diplomatic missions by John of Bedford; anxious for peace, he attached himself to Cardinal Beaufort. The question of Henry VI.'s marriage brought him to the front. Humphrey of Gloucester favoured an Armagnac alliance. Suffolk brought about the match with Margaret of Anjou. When he returned to England in June after negotiating the marriage and a two years' truce, he received a triumphant reception. He was made a marquess, and in the autumn sent again to France to bring Margaret home. The French extorted from him a promise to surrender all the English posses sions in Anjou and Maine, a fatal concession. Humphrey of Gloucester died in February 1447, within a few days of his arrest, and six weeks later Cardinal Beaufort died also. Rumour, though without sufficient reason, made him responsible for Humphrey's death, while the peace and its consequent concessions rendered him unpopular. So also did the supersession of Richard of York by Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset, in the French command. Suffolk's promotion to a dukedom in July 1448, marked the height of his power. The difficulties of his position may have led him to give some countenance to a treacherous attack on Fougeres during the time of truce (March The renewal of the war and the loss of all Normandy were its direct consequences. When parliament met in Nov. 1449, the opposition showed its strength by forcing the treasurer, Adam Molyneux, to resign.
Molyneux was murdered by the sailors at Portsmouth on Jan. 9, 1450. Suffolk boldly challenged his enemies in parliament, appeal ing to the long and honourable record of his public services. The Commons now presented articles of accusation dealing chiefly with alleged maladministration and the ill success of the French policy, there was a charge of aiming at the throne by the betrothal of his son to the little Margaret Beaufort. Suffolk denied the accusa tions as false, untrue and too horrible to speak more of. Ultimately the king sentenced him to banishment for five years. Suffolk left England on May 1. He was intercepted in the Channel by the ship "Nicholas of the Tower," and next morning was beheaded in a little boat alongside.
Popular opinion at the time judged Suffolk as a traitor. This view was accepted by Yorkist chroniclers and Tudor historians, who had no reason to speak well of a Pole. Later legend made him the paramour of Margaret of Anjou, which story appears in the Mirrour for Magistrates, and Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI. (Act. III. sc. ii.). Suffolk's best defence is contained in the touch ing letter of farewell to his son (Paston Letters, i. 142), and in his noble speeches before parliament (Rolls of Parliament, v. 176, 182). The policy of peace which he pursued was just and wise; he foresaw its risk to himself.
Suffolk's wife, Alice, was widow of Thomas, earl of Salisbury, and granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer. By her he had an only son John, second duke of Suffolk.