Thomas, Duke of Clarence, second son of King Henry IV of England. He was nominally Lieutenant of Ireland from 1401 to 1413, and was in command of the English fleet in 1405, acted in opposition to his elder brother, afterwards King Henry V, and the Beauforts during the later part of the reign of Henry IV; and was for a short time at the head of the government, leading an unsuccessful expedition into France in 1412. When Henry V, however, became king in 1413 no serious dissensions took place between the brothers, and as a member of the royal council Clarence took part in the preparations for the French war. He was with the English king at Harfleur, but not at Agincourt, and shared in the expedition of 1417 into Normandy, during which he led the assault on Caen, and distinguished himself as a soldier in other similar undertakings. When Henry V returned to England in 1421, the duke remained in France as his lieutenant, and was killed at Beauge whilst rashly attacking the French and their Scottish allies on the 22nd of March 1421. He left no legitimate issue, and the title again became extinct.

      Excerpted from:

      Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Ed. Vol VI.
      Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1910. 428.

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Other Local Resources:

• House of Lancaster
  
• King Henry IV
  
• King Henry V
  
• John, Duke of Bedford
  
• Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
  

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