Ralph Neville, 3rd Earl of Westmorland ★

1450s–1460s

Born around 1456 at Raby Castle, Durham, the only child of John Neville, Baron Neville, and Anne Holland. His father was killed fighting for the Lancastrians at Towton on 29 March 1461 and attainted.

1470s–1480s

The attainder was reversed on 6 October 1472, restoring the family's estates. Married Isabel Booth before 20 February 1473. Made a Knight of the Bath in 1475, he served Richard III and became 3rd Earl of Westmorland when his uncle died on 3 November 1484.

1490s

Served Henry VII, holding a command in the 1497 invasion of Scotland. Died on 7 June 1498, soon after his son and heir, and was buried at Hornby.

Family Background

Ralph Neville was born around 1456 at Raby Castle, Durham, the only child of John Neville, Baron Neville, and Anne Holland, herself descended from the Holland family through her father John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter. His father was younger brother to Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland.

Father's Death and Early Life

Ralph's father was killed fighting for the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton on March 29, 1461, and was afterward attainted, leaving young Ralph to grow up under the shadow of his family's forfeiture until the attainder was reversed on October 6, 1472, restoring most of his paternal estates and the Neville barony.

Rise to the Earldom

Ralph was made a Knight of the Bath in 1475 alongside the sons of Edward IV, and served Richard III faithfully enough to be rewarded with manors in Somerset and Berkshire for "good services against the rebels." He inherited the earldom of Westmorland when his uncle died on November 3, 1484, becoming 3rd Earl.

Service Under Henry VII

After Bosworth, Ralph adapted quickly to the new Tudor regime, entering into bonds of loyalty with Henry VII, and held a military command in the 1497 English invasion of Scotland launched after King James IV backed the pretender Perkin Warbeck's claim to the English throne.

Marriage and Death

Before February 20, 1473, Ralph married Isabel Booth, daughter of Sir Roger Booth and niece of Lawrence Booth, Archbishop of York, and the couple had two children, Ralph and Anne. Ralph died soon after his son and heir's death, reportedly of grief, and was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church in Hornby, succeeded by his young grandson as 4th Earl of Westmorland.