Biography of William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon 1475-1511

In or before 1475 [his father] Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 15] and [his mother] Elizabeth Courtenay were married. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1475 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon was born to Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 16] and Elizabeth Courtenay.

Around 1496 [his son] Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 21] and [his wife] Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 16]. He a grandson of King Edward IV of England. He married (1) after June 1515 his fifth cousin once removed Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon, daughter of John Grey 2nd Viscount Lisle and Muriel Howard Viscountess Lisle (2) 25th October 1519 Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter, daughter of William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy and Elizabeth Saye Baroness Mountjoy, and had issue.

Around 1497 [his son] Edward Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 22]. He died aged five in 1502.

Around 1499 [his daughter] Margaret Courtenay Countess of Worcester was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 24] and [his wife] Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 19]. She a granddaughter of King Edward IV of England. She married 15th June 1514 her second cousin Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester, son of Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan, and had issue.

On 20th September 1501 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset [aged 46] died. His son Thomas [aged 24] succeeded 2nd Marquess Dorset, 2nd Earl Huntingdon, 8th Baron Ferrers of Groby. Eleanor St John Marchioness Dorset by marriage Marchioness Dorset.

On 12th July 1502 [his son] Edward Courtenay [aged 5] died.

In February 1504 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 29] was attainted and imprisoned at Tower of London [Map]. He was accused for supposedly having supported Edmund Pole 3rd Duke of Suffolk [aged 33], a Yorkist claimant, in his claim to the throne; William's wife was Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 24].

Around 27th May 1509 [his father] Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 50] died. Earl Devon forfeit since his son William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 34], who would otherwise have succeeded to the titles, had been attainted in 1504.

On 10th May 1511 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 36] was created 1st Earl Devon. He died a month later. [his wife] Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 31] by marriage Countess Devon.

On 9th June 1511 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 36] died of pleurisy. His son Henry [aged 15] succeeded 2nd Earl Devon. His widow Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 31] subsequently took a vow of celibacy in the presence of Bishop Richard Fitzjames on 13th July 1511.

On 15th November 1527 [his former wife] Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 48] died at Tiverton Castle [Map]. She was buried at St Peter's Church Tiverton, Devon.