Stafford, Humphrey, 1st duke of Buckingham

Stafford, Humphrey, 1st duke of Buckingham, 1402–60, English nobleman. He succeeded his father as earl of Stafford in 1403. He inherited the title of earl of Buckingham through his mother, Anne, countess of Buckingham, who was a daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloucester (son of Edward III). He served in France in the Hundred Years War as soldier and administrator. Made duke in 1444, he was later granted some of the estates of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, whose policies he had opposed. In the Wars of the Roses he supported the Lancastrians and was killed at the battle of Northampton.