John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk

John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, KG, was a notable figure in 15th-century England. Born to William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, and Alice Chaucer, he was the great-grandson of poet Geoffrey Chaucer. His father’s murder in 1450 impacted his youth and upon inheriting the title in 1463, he was one of the poorest English dukes, unable to afford a retinue for appearances in London. His first marriage was annulled, and his second to Elizabeth of York connected him to kings Edward IV and Richard III. This union produced eleven children, with his eldest son, John, later becoming heir to Richard III.

De la Pole avoided early involvement in the Wars of the Roses, only taking up arms when Edward IV claimed the throne. He engaged in local feuds, such as with the Paston family, and was not a close confidant of Edward IV during his second reign. He accepted Richard III’s rise to power in 1483 but was absent from Bosworth in 1485. Despite his son’s treason, Henry VII did not hold it against de la Pole, who died in 1492 and was buried in Wingfield Church, Suffolk.