John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset

John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (c. 1373 - March 16, 1410) was the first of the four children of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and his mistress Katherine Swynford. He was born in about 1373, probably at his father's Beaufort Castle in Anjou, France. In any event, their father gave them the surname "Beaufort" and the portcullis as their emblem. John had his nephew Richard II of England declare his Beaufort children legitimate in 1390 (but with the proviso that they were barred from the succession to the throne, although their father was a son of Edward III of England); it is thought that this may have been a "private" act (that is, not entered in the public records), because, in January 1397, the Duke had Parliament issue a similar declaration, with the same proviso (he married Katherine that same month, although they had been living apart for some years, and that may have been for the purpose of having their children publicly declared legitimate). His son John was named Earl of Somerset on February 10, 1397.

Some months later, Somerset married Margaret Holland, daughter of the Earl of Kent; they had six children:

• Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset (c. 1401 - November 25, 1418).
• John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset (baptized March 25, 1404 - May 27, 1444).
• Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Perche (c. 1405 - 1432).
• Joan Beaufort (c. 1406 - July 15, 1445), who married James I of Scotland.
• Edmund, 2nd Duke of Somerset (c. 1406 - May 22, 1455).
• Margaret Beaufort (c. 1409 - 1449).