John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset

John Beaufort
Earl of Somerset
Drawing of an alabaster tomb effigy of John Beaufort, wearing a Collar of Esses and plate armour, Canterbury Cathedral
Born	c. 1373
Died	16 March 1410 (aged ~37) Hospital of St Katharine's by the Tower, London, England
Burial	St Michael's Chapel, Canterbury Cathedral
Spouse	Margaret Holland
Issue Detail	Henry, 2nd Earl of Somerset Joan, Queen of Scots John, Duke of Somerset Thomas, Count of Perche Edmund, Duke of Somerset Margaret, Countess of Devon
House	Beaufort
Father	John of Gaunt
Mother	Katherine Swynford

John Beaufort, 1st Marquess of Somerset and 1st Marquess of Dorset, later only 1st Earl of Somerset, KG (c. 1373 – 16 March 1410) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the first of the four children of John of Gaunt (1340–1399) (third surviving son of King Edward III) by his mistress Katherine Swynford, whom he later married in 1396.

The Beaufort children were declared legitimate twice by parliament, first during the reign of King Richard II, in 1397,^[1] which was confirmed by Henry IV, as well as by Pope Boniface IX in September 1396.^[2]