Page "Henry Beaufort" Paragraph 3

The second son of John of Gaunt and his mistress Katherine Swynford, Beaufort was born in Anjou, an English domain in France, in about 1374 and educated for a career in the Church.

After his parents were married in early 1396, Henry, his two brothers and one sister were declared legitimate by the pope and legitimated by Act of Parliament on 9 February 1397, but they were barred from the succession to the throne.

On 27 February 1398 he was nominated Bishop of Lincoln and on 14 July 1398 he was consecrated.

When his half-brother deposed Richard and took the throne as Henry IV of England, he made Bishop Beaufort Lord Chancellor of England in 1403.

Beaufort resigned that position in 1404 when he was appointed Bishop of Winchester on 19 November.