William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester

William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester, KG (c. 1526/7 – 21 February 1589) 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.[1]

The Earl of Worcester
3rd Earl of Worcester
William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester in his suit of Greenwich armor
Tenure	1549–1589
Successor	Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester
Born	c.1526
Died	21 February 1589 Hackney
Buried	Church of St Cadoc, Raglan, Monmouthshire
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Christiana North
Issue Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester Elizabeth Somerset Lucy Somerset
Parents	Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester (d. 1565)

Quartered arms of Sir William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester, KG

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.[2] They were parents to three children:

• Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester (d. 3 March 1628).
• Elizabeth Somerset. Married William Windsor. He was a namesake son of William Windsor, 2nd Baron Windsor by his wife Margaret Sambourne.
• Lucy Somerset. Married Henry Herbert, Esquire.[2]

William Somerset married (2nd) before 1567 Theophila Newton, daughter of John Newton (otherwise Cradock), 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 (1983): 72.

Worcester supported Lady Jane Grey in 1553. He was invested as Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1570. William Somerset died at his house Hackney on 21 February 1589 and was buried in the Church of St Cadoc, Raglan, Monmouthshire.[3]

He was a patron of the arts, and sponsored - among others - the eminent Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn.