Sir Thomas de Beauchamp Knight of the Garter, Earl of Warwick

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, also hereditary Sheriff of Worcestershire and Chamberlain of the Exchequer, son and heir, was probably born 14 Feb 1313/4. He was knighted by the King, 1 January, and given seisin of his lands, though under age, 20 Feb 1328/9; was summoned for service against the Scots, 1333 and 1335, and was again in Scotland,1336; Commissioner to treat for a truce with Scotland, 4 May 1336, and for a final peace there, 24 Jul 1337, and to consider measures for the defence of the realm, 11 Dec 1336; Captain of the army against the Scots, 25 Mar 1337, and Warden of the March of Scotland in that year; Keeper of Southampton, 10 Jul 1339. In the autumn of 1339 he took part in the King's campaign in France, being in the 3rd division at Vironfosse (in the Aisne), where both sides were drawn up for the battle but the French withdrew. The following year he was in command at Valenciennes and later was with the King at the siege of Tournai, taking part in the negotiations for the truce at Esplechin, 25 Sep 1340.

Thomas de Beauchamp attended the Royal tournament at Dunstable, February 1341/2; was a Commissioner to treat for peace with France, 24 May 1342, and again, in the Pope's presence, 29 Aug 1343; and served in Brittany, October 1342-January 1342/3, being present at the siege of Vannes. Marshal of England, 10 Feb 1343/4 until his death; Sheriff of cos. Warwick and Leicester for life, 26 Jun 1344. In the Crécy campaign he was appointed one of the two Marshals of the army and distinguished himself in the battle, 26 Aug 1346, where he was in joint command of the Prince of Wales's division, and at the siege of Calais, 1346-47. About 1348 he became K.G., being one of the founders of that order.

On 29 Aug 1350 Thomas de Beauchamp took part in the King's naval action off Winchelsea; and he was Admiral of the Fleet from the mouth of the Thames towards the West, before 20 Mar 1352/3. Having accompanied the Prince of Wales to Gascony in 1355, he was made Constable of the army there and commanded the vanguard at the battle of Poitiers, 19 Sep 1356. Shortly before 12 Jul 1356 he recovered from John de Mowbray the lands of Gower and Swansea Castle, which had been alienated from Norman Earls of Warwick by King John in 1203. Having served in Edward III's last campaign in France, 1359-60, he was a witness to the treaty of Brétigny, 8 May 1360. As Commissioner appointed, 19 Jul 1362, to take the homage due to the Prince of Wales as Duke of Aquitaine, he went to Gascony with the Prince and was there, November 1364. He was sent on a special mission to Flanders, October-November 1366; and was appointed, Keeper of the truce in the East and West Marches and a Commissioner to treat with the Scots, 16 Jul 1367. In 1369 he played a prominent part in John of Gaunt's expedition into France and himself devastated Caux.

Thomas de Beauchamp married (dispensation 19 Aprl 1319), after 22 Feb 1324/5, Catherine, daughter of Roger de Mortimer, 1^st Earl of March, by Joan, daughter and heir of Piers de Geneville. She died between 4 August and 6 September 1369 and was buried in St. Mary's, Warwick. He died of the plague 13 Novr 1369 at Calais, aged 55, and was buried with her.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. XIIB. pp. 372-374

Thomas married Katherine de Mortimer, daughter of Sir Roger de Mortimer Knight, 1st Earl of March and Joan de Genenville.¹⁴¹ (Katherine de Mortimer was born about 1315 in Wigmore, Herefordshire, England, died between 4 Aug and 6 Sep 1369 in Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, England ¹⁴¹ and was buried in 1359 in St. Mary's, Warwickshire, England ¹⁴¹.)

Warwick Castle