John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset

Quick facts Restoration of Marquis of Hertford Act 1660, Long title ...

Restoration of Marquis of Hertford Act 1660
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	An Act for the restoring of the Marquis of Hertford to the Dukedom of Somersett.
Citation	12 Cha. 2. c. 10 Pr.
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	13 September 1660
Commencement	25 April 1660[a]
Status: Current legislation

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He was a younger son of William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, and Lady Frances Devereux.^[1] He was the only one of the second duke's sons still alive when his father died and the title descended to his six-year-old nephew, William.^[2]

In 1661 he married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Edward Alston and widow of George Grimston^[1] in exchange for a dowry of £10,000. Her father negotiated an independent income of £300 per year for his daughter and additional clauses to cover the possibility that she became a widow. The marriage was a financial success but otherwise it was a disaster. John liked drinking and gambling, but Sarah did not.^[3]

He was elected Member of Parliament for Marlborough in 1661.^[1] Although the voters of Marlborough usually accepted the Seymour family's nominee, on this occasion the seat was contested and he received only one more vote than his rival.^[4] Unhappy in his marriage and having fallen out with his nephew's guardian and his mother, he entered Gray's Inn in 1666 in order to escape his creditors.^[1] He succeeded his nephew as the 4th Duke of Somerset in 1671, but much of the family estate was inherited by his niece Elizabeth, who subsequently married Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury.^[2]

He spent the last two separated from his wife after she petitioned the King concerning his behaviour.^[3] He died in 1675, childless and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.^[1] He was succeeded in the dukedom by his cousin, Francis Seymour.^[2] The Marquessate of Hertford became extinct on his death.^[5]