Bedford, JOHN, DUKE OF

Bedford, JOHN, DUKE OF, third son of Henry IV., was born about 1389. During his father's lifetime he was governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and warden of the Scottish marches. In 1415 his brother, Henry V., created him Duke of Bedford; and during the war with France he was left in command of the forces in England. After Henry's death (1422), Bedford went to France to look after the interests of the infant prince, his nephew. The regency of France he offered to the Duke of Burgundy, who refused it; he then assumed it himself. On the death of Charles, a few months after Henry V., Bedford had his nephew proclaimed king of France and England, as Henry VI. In the wars with the dauphin which followed, Bedford displayed great generalship, and defeated the French in several battles—most disastrously at Verneuil in 1424. But, in consequence of the rather parsimonious way in which men and money were doled out to him from England, and the withdrawal of the forces of the Duke of Burgundy, he was unable to take full advantage of his victories. The appearance of Joan of Arc, notwithstanding his utmost energy, was followed by disaster to the English arms; and in 1435 a treaty of peace was negotiated at Rouen between Charles VII. and the Duke of Burgundy, which effectually ruined English interests in France. The death of Bedford, which took place September 19, 1435, fourteen days before the ratification of that treaty, was mainly, if not altogether, occasioned by his anxiety and vexation on account of the union thus formed. Bedford, who was a patron of letters, purchased and removed to London the Royal Library of Paris, consisting of 900 volumes. For the present dukedom of Bedford, see RUSSELL.