Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter

Also known as: Thomas Beauford / Thomas Beaufort / Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset / Thomas de Beaufort / Thomas duke of Excester / Thomas earle of Dorset / marquesse Dorset · Family: House of Lancaster · Role: son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford · First appears: Richard II 63

Thomas Beaufort was a son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, and brother of Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. Around 1397, under Richard II, he was created Earl of Somerset, and around 1411 Henry IV, his brother, created him Earl of Dorset. He served Henry IV overseas with Edward Plantagenet, Duke of York, landing in Normandy in 1412.

During Henry V’s reign, Thomas became Duke of Exeter in 1414 and was sent as his uncle and ambassador to France. Around 1418 he besieged Eureux, after which he appointed Gilbert Halsall captain there; he also served under Henry V in other campaigns and stood among the mourners at the king’s funeral. In 1422, custody of the young Henry VI was assigned to Thomas and Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, while John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford became regent and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester protector.

In 1424, Thomas joined the lords in pledging allegiance to Henry VI, and in 1425 he was among the arbitrators appointed over disputes between Humphrey Duke of Gloucester and Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. He was described as “a right sage and discréet councellor” and died at his manor in Gréenewich during these proceedings. In the same period, his half-sister Elizabeth (half-sister of the Duke of Exeter) died; a later account recorded that Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick became governor of Henry VI in place of Thomas, “latelie departed to God”.