John of Gloucester facts for kids
John of Gloucester (also known as John of Pontefract) was an important person in English history. He was the son of King Richard III. John got his name because his father was the Duke of Gloucester when he was born. King Richard III made him the Captain of Calais, a very important job. However, he lost this position after his father died. It seems he was held by King Henry VII for a while and might have died around 1499.
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Who Was John of Gloucester?
John of Gloucester was the son of King Richard III. He was born before his father became king. John is often called "John of Pontefract" because some people believe he was born in Pontefract, England.
His Early Life
We don't know exactly when John was born or who his mother was. Historians believe he was born around 1468. This is because he was old enough to be made a knight in 1483. He was also old enough to become Captain of Calais in 1485.
When Was He Born?
One idea is that John was born in 1468. This would mean he was about 17 years old when his father made him Captain of Calais. King Richard III himself said that John was still a minor (under 21) at that time.
Who Was His Mother?
The identity of John's mother is not known for sure. Some historians have suggested different women. One idea is that his mother was Alice Burgh. Another possible mother mentioned is Katherine Haute. It's not known if John and Richard III's other child, Katherine, had the same mother.
His Career and Role
John had an important role during his father's time. He was given a special honor and a big job.
Becoming a Knight
On September 8, 1483, John was made a knight in York. This happened during a big celebration. His half-brother, Edward, Richard's only official son, was also given the title of Prince of Wales at this event.
Captain of Calais
By November 1484, John was in Calais, a very important port city. On March 11, 1485, his father, King Richard III, officially made him the Captain of Calais. This was a powerful position. In the official document, King Richard called John "our dear bastard son." The document gave John all the powers of the Captain. However, he couldn't appoint officers until he turned 21.
Life After Richard III
After his father, King Richard III, died, John's life changed.
What Happened to John?
King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. After this, Henry VII became the new king. King Henry VII removed John from his job as Captain of Calais. However, he didn't punish John further. In fact, on March 1, 1486, King Henry VII gave John an annual income of 20 pounds.
Later, a man named Perkin Warbeck claimed to be Richard, Duke of York. In his confession, Warbeck said that King Richard's son was being held by the King of England around 1491. A historian from the 1600s, George Buck, wrote that a son of King Richard III was secretly killed around 1499. This was supposedly to stop some Irish people from trying to make him their leader. However, there are no other records to confirm that John was executed.
