Percy Seymour, 18th Duke of Somerset

He was the son of Evelyn Seymour, 17th Duke of Somerset by his wife Edith Parker, a daughter of William Parker by his wife Lucinda Steeves.

He was educated at Blundell's School, Tiverton in Devon, and at Clare College, Cambridge. He was subsequently commissioned into the Wiltshire Regiment. He saw service in India, Persia and Burma.

In London on 18 December 1951, he married Gwendoline Collette Jane Thomas (d. 18 February 2005, aged 91), daughter of Major John Cyril Collette Thomas, of Burn Cottage, Bude, Cornwall, by whom he had three children:

• John Michael Edward Seymour, 19th Duke of Somerset (b. 30 December 1952).
• Lady Anne Frances Mary Seymour (b. Bath, 11 November 1954), unmarried and without issue.
• Lord Francis Charles Edward Seymour (b. Bath, 10 August 1956), married on 22 May 1982 Paddy Poynder, daughter of Colonel Anthony John Irvine Tony Poynder (d. 28 November 2004), MC, Corps of Royal Engineers, and has issue:
  • Poppy Hermione Alexandra Seymour (b. 1988).
  • Webb Edward Percy Seymour (b. 1990).
  • Leonora Hermione Jane Seymour (b. 1995).
  • Hermione Anne Tara Seymour (b. 1997).

• Obituary - The Duke of Somerset, The Times, Saturday, 17 November 1984