Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort KG (16 October 1744 – 11 October 1803)[1] was the only son of Charles Noel Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort and his wife, Elizabeth Berkeley. Styled Marquess of Worcester from 1746, on his father's death on 28 October 1756, he succeeded him as Duke of Beaufort.[2]
He succeeded to the title of 13th Lord Herbert [E., 1461] on 28 October 1756.[2] He succeeded to the title of 11th Earl of Worcester [E., 1514] on 28 October 1756.[2] He succeeded to the title of 5th Duke of Beaufort [E., 1682] on 28 October 1756.[2] He succeeded to the title of 7th Marquess of Worcester [E., 1643] on 28 October 1756.[2] He matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 18 October 1760.[2] He graduated from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 7 July 1763 with a Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.).[2] He held the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons between 1767 and 1772.

He held the office of Master of the Horse between 1768 and 1770, to the Queen Consort. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Monmouthshire between 1771 and 1803. He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 2 June 1786. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire between 1787 and 1799.[2] He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Brecknockshire between 1787 and 1803.[2] His last will was dated from 21 June 1789 to 11 September 1800. He succeeded to the title of 5th Lord Botetourt [E., 1305] on 4 June 1803.

On 2 January 1766 he married Elizabeth Boscawen, daughter of Hon. Edward Boscawen, Admiral of the Blue, and sister to George Boscawen, 3rd Viscount Falmouth.[2] With her he had nine sons and four daughters:
Henry Charles Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort, his heir and successor
Lord Charles Henry Somerset (2 December 1767 – 18 February 1831)
Lord Edward Henry Somerset (1768–1769)
Lord Norborne Berkeley Henry Somerset (4 May 1771 – 1838)
Lady Elizabeth Somerset (11 February 1773 – 5 May 1836), who married, on 27 June 1796, Very Reverend Charles Talbot, Dean of Salisbury, grandson of Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot, with whom she had three sons and three daughters
Lady Frances Elizabeth Somerset (3 April 1774 – 24 May 1841)
Lady Harriet Isabella Elizabeth Somerset (9 July 1775 – 1 June 1855), married Colonel Hugh Henry Mitchell and had one son and two daughters.
Lord Robert Edward Henry Somerset (19 December 1776 – 1 September 1842)
Lord Arthur John Henry Somerset (1780–1816)
Rev. Lord William George Henry Somerset (2 September 1784 – 14 January 1861), Prebendary of Bristol, who was married twice; on 29 June 1813 to Elizabeth Molyneux (d. 1843), daughter of Lt.-Gen. Sir Thomas Molyneux, 5th Baronet, with whom he had one son, and in 1844 to Frances Westby Brady (d. 31 August 1854), with whom he had no issue
Lady Anne Elizabeth Somerset (7 June 1786 – 22 September 1803)
Col. Lord John Thomas Henry Somerset (30 August 1787 – 3 October 1846), married Lady Catherine Annesley,[1] daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Mountnorris on 4 December 1814
Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (30 September 1788 – 28 June 1855)