Social Victorians/People/Somerset

Also Known As

• Family name: Seymour or St. Maur
• Algernon St. Maur (earlier)
• Duke of Somerset
  • Edward Adolphus St. Maur, 12th Duke of Somerset (15 August 1855 – 28 December 1885)
  • Archibald Algernon Henry St. Maur, formerly Seymour, 13th Duke of Somerset (28 November 1885 – 12 January 1891)
  • Algernon Percy Banks St. Maur, formerly Seymour, 14th Duke of Somerset (12 January 1891 – 2 October 1894)
  • Algernon St. Maur, later Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset (2 October 1894 – 22 October 1923)
  • Edward Hamilton Seymour, 16th Duke of Somerset (1925 – 5 May 1931)
• Subsidiary titles
  • Baron Seymour, eldest son and heir apparent
  • Earl St. Maur (1863–1885)

Timeline

1897 June 28, Monday, according to the Morning Post, Algernon St. Maur, Duke and Susan St. Maur, Duchess of Somerset were invited to the 28 June Queen's Garden Party, the official end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London.

1897 July 2, Friday, Algernon, Duke and Susan, Duchess of Somerset attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House, as did a Miss Seymour.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Algernon St. Maur, Duke of Somerset

Edward Seymour

Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset in costume as Edward, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Algernon St. Maur, Duke of Somerset (at 27) sat at Table 11 at the first seating for supper. His costume was made by "Messrs. Simmons and Sons, of the Haymarket."

• "The Duke of Somerset (the Protector Somerset), black velvet surcoat and slashed trunks, with jet; large black velvet mantle with black velvet cap, looped with diamonds, and plume of feathers."
• The Duke of Somerset was dressed as "Somerset the Protector. Black velvet surcoat and lashed trunks elegantly trimmed with jet, large velvet mantle trimmed to match, black velvet cap looped with diamonds and plume, and the Order of the Garter, sword and steel dagger."
• "The Duke of Somerset had selected as his character Somerset the Protector, appearing in black velvet surcoat and slashed trunks, trimmed with jet, a large velvet mantle trimmed to match, black velvet cap, looped with diamonds, and plume, and the Order of the Garter, sword, and steel dagger."
• He "personated the great Protector of that name."
• "[T]he Duke of Somerset [was dressed] as the Protector Somerset."

Byrne & Co.'s portrait of "Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset as Edward, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England" in costume is photogravure #262 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Duke of Somerset as 'Edwarde, Duke of Somerset, Lorde Protector of England."

The portrait (left) of Edward Seymour was painted sometime in the 16th century and is in the collection of the Marquess of Bath. He is wearing the necklace of the Order of the Garter, as is Algernon St. Maur, though the pendants are not identical.

Susan St. Maur, Duchess of Somerset

Susan, Duchess of Somerset in costume as Jane, Queen of England. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Jane Seymour, detail from larger portrait of family group with Henry VIII

Susan St. Maur, Duchess of Somerset (at 209) sat at Table 12 at the first supper seating.

• "The Duchess of Somerset as Lady Jane Seymour, after a picture by Holbein, was dressed in gold brocade with a wonderful headdress; superbly jewelled, white gloves and Holbein ornaments embroidered on her gown."
• "The Duchess of Somerset was Jane Seymour, after a picture by Holbein."

Sir Edward John Poynter's portrait of "Susan Margaret (née MacKinnon), Duchess of Somerset as Jane, Queen of England, wife to King Henry VIII and mother to King Edward VI" in costume is photogravure #261 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Duchess of Somerset as 'Jane Queene of Englande wyfe to Kynge Henry the Eight and mother to Kinge Edward the Sixt," with a Long S in Duchess."

The portrait of Jane Seymour (right) is a detail from a larger portrait of a family group with Henry VIII on his throne in the center. Formerly attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger, it was painted around 1545 and is now in the collection at Hampton Court Palace, having been part of the royal collections probably from the beginning. Several portraits of Jane Seymour show her wearing a similar headdress, although the headdress in the portrait of Susan, Duchess of Somerset seems to incorporate a crown as well as the usual "gable."

Miss Seymour

Miss Seymour (at 406) may have been one of the archduchesses waiting on Marie Thérèse, at least according to the Belfast News-Letter, which often reprinted articles originally printed in the London Daily News. In this case, only one newspaper lists her name at all. If so, she was in the entourage of the Marchioness of Londonderry, who led the Austrian procession as Marie Thérèse, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. The other archduchesses are discussed here and the costume worn by them here.

• "The archduchesses were Lady Helen Stewart, Lady Alexandra Hamilton, Lady Beatrix FitzMaurice, Lady Beatrice Butler, and Miss Seymour. Their dresses were particularly admired, and were of beautiful silver brocade, made with corsages of silver cloth under soft lisse, and with wide blue ribbons tied high at the side."

Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset did not have children, and neither did any of his brothers, so this Miss Seymour, whoever she is, cannot have been in his immediate family.

Demographics

• Nationality: British

Family

• Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset (22 July 1846 – 22 October 1923)
• Susan Margaret Richards Mackinnon, Duchess of Somerset (11 January 1853 – 30 January 1936)

Relations

• Raglan Somerset

Notes and Questions

1. The Morning Post and the Times say Miss Stirling was part of the Marie-Thérèse procession as Countess Kinskey. The Guernsey Star says she was one of the archduchesses attending the Marchioness of Londonderry, and the Belfast News-Letter says Miss Seymour was among the archduchesses instead. Except for the Guernsey Star and the Belfast News-Letter, the reports agree that there were 4 rather than 5 archduchesses.
2. Whether the surname was Seymour or St. Maur depends on which branch of the same family and when; the different branches run simultaneously, of course, and the dukedom moved among the branches, sometimes laterally, sometimes going back generations to pick up the line.
3. Lady Seymour and Miss Seymour attended social events together at this time.