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- BIOGRAPHY
Humphrey Stafford was born on 15 August 1402, son of Edmund Stafford, 6th Baron and 5th Earl of Stafford. On 21 July 1403 Humphrey succeeded his father as Earl of Stafford. On 22 April 1421 he was knighted, and before 18 October 1424 married Anne, tenth daughter of Ralph Nevill, 1st Earl of Westmorland, being fourth daughter by his second wife, Joan Beaufort, the legitimated daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. They became the parents of twelve children.
In 1431 he was created Count of Perche in Normandy and, from 1430 till 1432, was Lieutenant General in Normandy. When his mother died on 16 October 1438, he was considered as Earl of Buckingham. In 1439 he was appointed Seneschal of Halton and, from 1442 till 1451, Captain of Calais and Lieutenant of the Marches. On 14 September 1444 he was created Duke of Buckingham; in 1446, was Ambassador to France. On 22 May 1447 he had a grant of special precedence given him 'before all Dukes who might thenceforward be created, excepting descendants of the King's body'. On 16 July 1450 he was appointed Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover and Queensborough Castle.
He was a zealous Lancastrian in which cause, on 10 July 1460, he was slain at the battle of Northampton.
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