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Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland (1519 – 27 September 1547) was the third child and second daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, the former Queen consort of France. She was a younger sister of Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln and Lady Frances Brandon, and an elder half-sister of Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk and Charles Brandon, 3rd Duke of Suffolk.
Her paternal grandparents were Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Her maternal grandparents were Henry VII of England and his queen consort Elizabeth of York. She was thus a niece of Henry VIII.
Countess of Cumberland
Eleanor was descendant of a member of the Tudor dynasty and therefore her marriage would advance the political ambitions of any given husband. In 1533, her father agreed to her engagement to Henry Clifford, the eldest son and heir of Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland by Margaret Percy.
In January, 1536, Eleanor was designated the chief mourner for the funeral service of Katharine of Aragon, first Queen consort of Henry VIII, at Peterborough Cathedral.
She married her fiancé in June 1537 at latest. They were parents of three children:
- Lady Margaret Clifford (1540 - 28 September 1596). She married Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby.
- Henry Clifford. Died an infant.
- Charles Clifford. Died an infant.
Prospects of succeeding to the throne
The Third Succession Act of 23 March 1544 defined that Eleanor was in line to succeed her maternal uncle Henry VIII. She was eighth-in-line for the throne following:
- Edward, Prince of Wales, her first cousin.
- Lady Mary Tudor, her first cousin.
- Lady Elizabeth Tudor, her first cousin.
- Lady Frances Brandon, her elder sister.
- Lady Jane Grey, her eldest niece.
- Lady Catherine Grey, her second niece.
- Lady Mary Grey, her third niece.
Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547. Prince Edward became King Edward VI. Lady Eleanor was the seventh-in-line for the throne, but she died on 27 September the same year. Her place in line was taken by her daughter. Her husband later remarried Anne Dacre, who bore him six more children.
References
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