Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset

Edward Adolphus Seymour (later St. Maur), 12th Duke of Somerset KG, PC (20 December 1805 – 28 November 1885), styled Lord Seymour until 1855, was a British Whig aristocrat and politician, who served in various cabinet positions in the mid-19th century. Somerset was the eldest son of Edward St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, and Lady Charlotte, daughter of Archibald Hamilton, 9th Duke of Hamilton. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. So... more

Edward Adolphus Seymour (later St. Maur), 12th Duke of Somerset KG, PC (20 December 1805 – 28 November 1885), styled Lord Seymour until 1855, was a British Whig aristocrat and politician, who served in various cabinet positions in the mid-19th century. Somerset was the eldest son of Edward St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, and Lady Charlotte, daughter of Archibald Hamilton, 9th Duke of Hamilton. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Somerset sat as Member of Parliament for Okehampton between 1830 and 1831 and for Totnes between 1834 and 1855. He served under Lord Melbourne as a Lord of the Treasury between 1835 and 1839, as Joint Secretary to the Board of Control between 1839 and 1841 and as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department between June and August 1841 and was a member of Lord John Russell's first administration as First Commissioner of Woods and Forests between 1849 and 1851, when the office was abolished. In August 1851 he was appointed to the newly... less