Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester
Encyclopedia
Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (1601? – 3 April 1667), styled Lord Herbert of Ragland from 1628–1644, was an English nobleman involved in royalist politics and an inventor. In 1655 he published The Century of Inventions, detailing more than 100 inventions, including a device that is one of the earliest steam engines
.
who supported Charles I
in Wales
and raised a regiment
of horse for him. His campaigning in the West of England and in Wales did not go well. After a month with his force of over 2,000 troops encamped at Highnam
, outside Gloucester
, in March 1643 Herbert left them as he travelled to meet the king at Oxford
. In his absence the entire force surrendered without any exchange of fire, earning it the title "The Mushroom Army". He was rewarded in 1644, however, with a peerage, being created Earl of Glamorgan and Baron Beaufort, of Caldecote. However, due to irregularities in the letters patent
, these titles were not recognized after the Restoration
.
Sent to Ireland, he made a false move in concluding a treaty, in great secrecy, on behalf of Charles that was considered to concede too much to the Catholics there; he himself was a Catholic. In extricating himself from that position, he became a close ally of Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
, and a potential replacement for James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
as royalist leader. His plans to bring Irish troops over to England were overtaken by events, and he left for France with George Leyburn
. He succeeded his father as Marquess of Worcester in 1646.
He was formally banished in 1649, but after four years in Paris
returned to England in 1653. He was discovered, charged with high treason
and sent to the Tower of London
; he was treated leniently by the Council of State
, and released on bail in 1654. That year he took up again his interest in engineering and inventions, leasing a house at Vauxhall
where his Dutch or German technician Kaspar Kalthoff could work. After this he largely avoided politics, and did not press his claims to the various other titles of nobility.
, it was an obvious prototype design for what would later become the steam engine
, which clearly anticipated the power and applications of that machine.
When Edward died he suggested that a model of his engine should be buried with him. Almost 200 years later in 1861, this prompted Victorian collector Bennet Woodcroft
to mount an expedition, on behalf of The Science Museum, to the vault of Raglan
church, to try and find a model of the invention in Somerset's tomb. Despite opening the coffin lid and searching thoroughly, no model was found. Woodcroft did, however, return with one of Edward's fingernails.
and his wife Anne Russell. In 1628, he married Elizabeth Dormer (d. 31 May 1635), sister of Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon
, by whom he had one son and two daughters:
In 1639, after Elizabeth's death, Lord Herbert married Margaret O'Brien (d. 26 July 1681), daughter of Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
. They had one daughter:
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
.
Life
Edward Somerset graduated from Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1627 with a Master of Arts (MA). He was a CavalierCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
who supported Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and raised a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of horse for him. His campaigning in the West of England and in Wales did not go well. After a month with his force of over 2,000 troops encamped at Highnam
Highnam
Highnam is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester. It is three miles northwest of the city on the A40, on its way to Ross, west of Alney Island and Over Bridge. The parish includes the villages of Lassington and Over...
, outside Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, in March 1643 Herbert left them as he travelled to meet the king at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. In his absence the entire force surrendered without any exchange of fire, earning it the title "The Mushroom Army". He was rewarded in 1644, however, with a peerage, being created Earl of Glamorgan and Baron Beaufort, of Caldecote. However, due to irregularities in the letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
, these titles were not recognized after the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
Sent to Ireland, he made a false move in concluding a treaty, in great secrecy, on behalf of Charles that was considered to concede too much to the Catholics there; he himself was a Catholic. In extricating himself from that position, he became a close ally of Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
Giovanni Battista Rinuccini was a Roman Catholic archbishop in the mid seventeenth century. He was a noted legal scholar who became chamberlain to Pope Gregory XV, who made him the Archbishop of Fermo in Italy...
, and a potential replacement for James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
as royalist leader. His plans to bring Irish troops over to England were overtaken by events, and he left for France with George Leyburn
George Leyburn
George Leyburn was an English Catholic priest, who became President of the English College, Douai.-Life:He was born in Westmoreland, and was admitted a student in the English College at Douai on 13 March 1617, under the name of George Bradley. He studied philosophy under Thomas White, and was...
. He succeeded his father as Marquess of Worcester in 1646.
He was formally banished in 1649, but after four years in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
returned to England in 1653. He was discovered, charged with high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
; he was treated leniently by the Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
, and released on bail in 1654. That year he took up again his interest in engineering and inventions, leasing a house at Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
where his Dutch or German technician Kaspar Kalthoff could work. After this he largely avoided politics, and did not press his claims to the various other titles of nobility.
Works
In 1655 he authored a book which consisted of textual descriptions of 100 separate inventions. It was eventually printed in 1663 and included a device described as his "Water-commanding Engine". Constructed from the barrel of a cannonCannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
, it was an obvious prototype design for what would later become the steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
, which clearly anticipated the power and applications of that machine.
When Edward died he suggested that a model of his engine should be buried with him. Almost 200 years later in 1861, this prompted Victorian collector Bennet Woodcroft
Bennet Woodcroft
Bennet Woodcroft FRS was an English textile manufacturer, industrial archaeologist, pioneer of marine propulsion, a leading figure in patent reform and the first clerk to the commissioners of patents.-Career:...
to mount an expedition, on behalf of The Science Museum, to the vault of Raglan
Raglan
Raglan is a small beachside town located 48 km west of Hamilton, New Zealand on State Highway 23. The population was 2,637 at the 2006 New Zealand Census.- History :...
church, to try and find a model of the invention in Somerset's tomb. Despite opening the coffin lid and searching thoroughly, no model was found. Woodcroft did, however, return with one of Edward's fingernails.
Family
He was the son of Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester
Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester was an English aristocrat, inheriting the title Earl of Worcester from his father Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester, in 1628. He was a prominent and financially important royalist....
and his wife Anne Russell. In 1628, he married Elizabeth Dormer (d. 31 May 1635), sister of Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon
Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon
Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon was an English peer. He was the son of Sir William Dormer, and thus a grandson of Robert Dormer, 1st Baron Dormer. His mother was Alice Molyneux, daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Bt. and Frances Gerard...
, by whom he had one son and two daughters:
- Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 1st Duke of BeaufortHenry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, KG, PC was an English peer. He was styled Lord Herbert from 1646 until 3 April 1667, when he succeeded his father as 3rd Marquess of Worcester....
, his heir and successor, who later became 1st Duke of BeaufortDuke of BeaufortDuke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the...
; - Lady Anne Somerset (1631?–1662), married Henry Howard, 6th Duke of NorfolkHenry Howard, 6th Duke of NorfolkHenry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk was the second son of Henry Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel and Lady Elizabeth Stuart. He succeeded his brother Thomas Howard, 5th Duke of Norfolk after his death in 1677...
, and had issue; - Lady Elizabeth Somerset (bef. 1635 – aft. c. 1680), married William Herbert, 1st Marquess of PowisWilliam Herbert, 1st Marquess of PowisWilliam Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis, PC was an English nobleman.He succeeded his father, the 2nd Baron Powis, as 3rd Baron Powis in 1667, and was created Earl of Powis in 1674 by King Charles II and Viscount Montgomery, of the Town of Montgomery, and Marquess of Powis in 1687 by King James II,...
, and had issue.
In 1639, after Elizabeth's death, Lord Herbert married Margaret O'Brien (d. 26 July 1681), daughter of Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond was an Irish peer, styled Lord Ibrickane until 1624.O'Brien was the son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Elisabeth FitzGerald...
. They had one daughter:
- Lady Mary Somerset, died young.