English nobleman and Lancastrian leader whose quarrel with Richard, duke of York, helped precipitate the Wars of the Roses (Roses, Wars of the) (1455–85) between the houses of Lancaster and York.

He was a member of the Beaufort family, which in the 1430s obtained control—with William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk—of the government of the weak king Henry VI (ruled 1422–61 and 1470–71). He was created earl of Dorset in 1441 and inherited the earldom of Somerset from his brother in 1444. A veteran of the English campaigns in France, Beaufort was appointed captain general in France in 1447, and in the following year he was created duke of Somerset.

His poor leadership was largely responsible for the reconquest of Normandy by the French in 1449–50. Public indignation over this disaster brought about the fall of Suffolk, but Somerset survived the storm and became Henry's chief minister. His unrelenting enemy was the powerful Richard, duke of York. Following Henry's mental collapse in July 1453, Parliament imprisoned Somerset (c. December 1453) and appointed York lord protector of the realm. The King recovered in December 1454, however, and shortly thereafter Somerset was restored to his former role in government. York then resorted to arms, and in May 1455 Somerset was killed by York's troops at the Battle of St. Albans.