Duke of Bedford (named after
Bedford,
England) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the
Peerage of England. The first and second creations came in 1414 in favour of
Henry IV's third son,
John, who later served as regent of France. He was made
Earl of Kendal at the same time and was made
Earl of Richmond later the same year. The titles became extinct on his death in 1435. The third creation came in 1470 in favour of
George Neville, nephew of
Warwick the Kingmaker. He was deprived of the title by Act of Parliament in 1478. The fourth creation came 1478 in favour of
George, the third son of
Edward IV. He died the following year at the age of two. The fifth creation came in 1485 in favour of
Jasper Tudor, half-brother of
Henry VI and uncle of
Henry VII. He had already been created
Earl of Pembroke in 1452. However, as he was a Lancastrian, his title was forfeited between 1461 and 1485 during the predominance of the
House of York. He regained the earldom in 1485 when his nephew Henry VII came to the throne and was elevated to the dukedom the same year. He had no legitimate children and the titles became extinct on his death in 1495.