Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort

The Duke of Beaufort
Spouse(s)	Frances Scudamore
Issue Margaret Burr (illegitimate)
Noble family	House of Beaufort
Father	Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort
Mother	Rachel Noel
Born	23 March 1707
Died	26 February 1745

Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (23 March 1707 – 26 February 1745; he died at the age of 38) was born Henry Somerset, the elder son of Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort and his second wife, Rachel Noel. As his father's eldest son and heir to his father's title he was known as (styled) Marquess of Worcester, a courtesy title. On his father's death on 24 April 1714 he succeeded him and became 3rd Duke of Beaufort.

At the age of 19 he commissioned the construction of what would later become known as the Badminton Chest or Badminton Cabinet, an ornate set of drawers made in Florence. The chest was sold in 2004 to Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein for £19 million, making it the most expensive piece of furniture in the world.^[1] It is on display in the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna, Austria.

On 28 June 1729 he married Frances Scudamore (born 14 August 1711 – died 16 February 1750^[2]), the only daughter and heir of James Scudamore, 3rd Viscount Scudamore and took his wife's name by an Act of Parliament later the same year.^[3] In 1742 he filed for divorce due to Frances' adulterous relationship with William Talbot, who later became Earl Talbot. Frances countersued, saying the Duke was impotent; in March 1743, he demonstrated before court-appointed examiners that he was physically able to have an erection. The divorce was granted, and he sued Talbot for damages.^[4][5] Frances later remarried to Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore.

The Duke was one of several founding governors of Britain's first institution for abandoned children, the Foundling Hospital, and his name is listed in its royal charter received from George II in October 1739.

After his death, the 3rd Duke of Beaufort was buried at St Michael and All Angels Church, Badminton. Because he had no legitimate children, his titles and estates were inherited by his younger brother, Charles Noel Somerset.

The Duke had one illegitimate daughter, Margaret Burr, who married the painter Thomas Gainsborough and had issue.

References

1. Guardian newspaper: Highest priced furniture sells for £19m, 10 December 2004
2. ThePeerage.com, "Frances Scudamore".
3. Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1729 (3 Geo. 2). c. 10
4. Raymond Stephanson, "The Yard of Wit: Male Creativity and Sexuality, 1650-1750", Univ of Pennsylvania Press, 2003. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
5. Angus McLaren, "Impotence: a cultural history", University of Chicago Press, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2011.

External links

• the Badminton Cabinet in the Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna