William Courtenay (died 1557) explained

William Courtenay
Honorific Suffix:Kt.
Death Date:29 September
Spouse:Lady Elizabeth Paulet
Children:Sir William Courtenay
Jane Courtenay
Parents:George Courtenay
Catherine St Leger
Nationality:English
Occupation:MP, soldier

Sir William Courtenay (– 29 September 1557) was a landowner in Devon and de jure 2nd Earl of Devon. He was the son of George Courtenay (d. 1533) and Catherine, daughter of Sir George St Ledger of Annery. He succeeded his grandfather Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham in 1535. He was knighted in 1553 and MP for Plympton in 1555.

Marriage and issue

Around 28 November 1545, he married Lady Elizabeth (– 4 Nov. 1576), daughter to John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester and his first wife, Elizabeth Willoughby, by whom he had a son and a daughter:

Death

He took part in the battle of St. Quentin in August 1557 in Picardy, France, and died on 29 September 1557. His widow later married Sir Henry Ughtred, son of Sir Anthony Ughtred and his second wife, Elizabeth Seymour, sister of Jane, third consort of Henry VIII.

In 1831, a decision of the House of Lords determined that he had succeeded his sixth cousin once removed (Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon) as de jure 2nd Earl of Devon in 1556.

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