Admiral Henry Charles Edward Stewart-Seymour-Somerset, 15th Duke of Somerset, KG, OM, GCSI, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS (16 May 1859-19 September 1949) was a British statesman and naval officer who became the Governor-General of India.
Life
The eldest son of Algernon St Maur, 14th Duke of Somerset, and his wife Lady Helen Blanche Stewart, the daughter and heraldic heiress of Randolph Stewart, 9th Earl of Galloway. The Earldom died out under Randolph, and Henry added the name Stewart to his surname as well as later adding the Somerset name. He was later granted the Earldom of Galloway as a subsidiary title.
Following a distinguished naval career, he moved to India as an Admiral commanding the Royal Indian Navy with his wife Lady Victoria Spencer, daughter of Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer. He was made Viceroy of India in 1894, a position he held until 1899.
When the Liberals (with whom Stewart was associated) returned to power in 1905, Stewart became Secretary of State for the Colonies (with Winston Churchill as his Under-Secretary). He retired from public life in 1908.
Following his inheritance of the Earldom of Galloway in 1915, he took up a seat in the House of Lords and eventually became Leader, a position in which he served until 1924.
Personal life
He married Lady Victoria Spencer, daughter of Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer. They had three children:
- Colonel Charles Josslyn Stewart-Seymour-Somerset, 16th Duke of Somerset (18 May 1883 - 23 April 1980) who married Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil, daughter of James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
- Lady Elizabeth Nancy Stewart-Seymour-Somerset (7 March 1885-25 April 1952) married Charles Winston, Esq.
- Lord James Robert Spencer Stewart-Seymour-Somerset (10 July 1890 - 18 August 1941).