Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (23 March 1707 – 26 February 1745), born Lord Henry Somerset, was an English nobleman and peer who supported Jacobitism.
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Life
He was 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, Beaufort 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. It is on display in the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna, Austria.
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.
In 1743, he was one of several leading English Tories who communicated with the French government through Francis Sempill in order to elicit French support for an invasion to restore the Stuart line.
After his death, the 3rd Duke of Beaufort was buried at St Michael and All Angels Church, Badminton. His memorial was sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack in 1754.
Because he had no legitimate children, his titles and estates were inherited by his younger brother, Charles Noel Somerset.
Family
On 28 June 1729 Beaufort married Frances Scudamore, the only daughter and heir of James Scudamore, 3rd Viscount Scudamore, and took his wife's name by a private act of Parliament, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort's Name and Lord Scudamore's Estate Act 1729 (3 Geo. 2. c. 10 Pr.), later the same year.
In 1742 Beaufort filed for divorce over Frances's 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 by the Duke of Beaufort's Divorce Act 1743 (17 Geo. 2. c. 2 Pr.), and he sued Talbot for damages. Frances later remarried, to Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore.
Beaufort had one illegitimate daughter, Margaret Burr, who married the English painter Thomas Gainsborough and had two surviving daughters, Mary and Margaret.