William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester
William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester, KG was an English courtier, nobleman, and politician. He was the eldest son of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester and his second wife Elizabeth Browne.
On 26 November 1549, he succeeded his father and became the 3rd Earl of Worcester. Before 19 May 1550, Worcester married Christiana North. She was a daughter of Edward North, 1st Baron North and his wife Alice Squire. They were parents to three children:
William Somerset married before 1567 Theophila Newton, daughter of John Newton, Knt., of East Harptree, Somerset, by Margaret, daughter of Anthony Poyntz, Knt. A portrait of Countess Theophila by an unknown artist of that date is mentioned by Ashelford, Visual History of Costume : 72.
Worcester supported Lady Jane Grey in 1553. He was invested as Knight, Order of the Garter in 1570. William Somerset died at his house Hackney on 21 February 1589 and was buried in the Church of St Cadoc, Raglan, Monmouthshire.
He was a patron of the arts, and sponsored - among others - the eminent Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn.Ancestry
