William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset was the great-grandson of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (c.1500-1552), the uncle of King Edward VI and Lord Protector of England. Seymour made a secret marriage at Greenwich on 22 June 1610 to Arbella Stuart (d.1615), daughter of Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Elizabeth Cavendish. Arbella was thirteen years his senior, and King James I disapproved of the marriage as the union of two potential Tudor pretenders to the throne, who were respectively fourth and sixth in line, could only be seen as a threat to the ruling dynasty. As a result, William was condemned to life
John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset (before 1646 – 29 April 1675) was an English peer and MP. He was the only surviving son of William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset and Lady Frances Devereux and entered Grays Inn in 1666. He succeeded his nephew as the 4th Duke of Somerset in 1671. In 1656 he married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Edward Alston and widow of George Grimston. He was elected Member of Parliament for Marlborough in 1661. He died in 1675, childless, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. He was succeeded