Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March

Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March and Earl of Ulster, was an English nobleman who held the position of Lieutenant of Ireland before his death. He was the offspring of Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March, and Philippa Montagu. After his father’s passing during his infancy, Edward III of England placed Edmund under the guardianship of William of Wykeham and Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel. His importance was magnified by his marriage to Philippa, daughter of Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, making him a significant figure in the Welsh marches and establishing a claim to the English throne through his wife’s lineage.

Edmund Mortimer was actively involved in the politics of his time, serving as Marshal of England and participating in various diplomatic missions. He was a member of the Good Parliament of 1376, opposing the Court Party and John of Gaunt. Despite his influence, he avoided seeking an administrative office upon Richard II’s accession but accepted the role of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1379. His efforts to establish control in Ireland were cut short when he was killed at Cork in 1381, and he was later buried in Wigmore Abbey alongside his wife.