William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk

William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, was born on 16 October 1396 in Cotton, Suffolk, as the second son of Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, and Katherine de Stafford. He became involved in the Hundred Years' War, serving under Henry V and later Henry VI. During the Siege of Harfleur in 1415, he was seriously wounded, and his father died from dysentery. His elder brother, Michael, was killed at the Battle of Agincourt, leading William to succeed as the 4th Earl of Suffolk.

He continued to serve in France, participating in various campaigns and holding high command in Normandy. William de la Pole became a prominent figure in the English government, gaining favor with King Henry VI. He played a role in negotiating the Treaty of Tours in 1444, which included arranging the king's marriage to Margaret of Anjou. His influence grew, and he was appointed to several important offices, including Chamberlain and Admiral of England.

William faced accusations of maladministration and was blamed for the failures in France, particularly the loss of Maine and Anjou. In 1450, he was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London but was later exiled. His journey to Calais ended when his ship was intercepted, and he was executed by beheading. William's nickname, "Jackanapes," derived from his heraldic badge, which featured an ape's clog. This nickname later became associated with impertinence. He was also a character in Shakespeare's Henry VI, parts 1 and 2.

William married Alice Chaucer in 1430, and they had one legitimate son, John de la Pole, who became the 2nd Duke of Suffolk. He also had an illegitimate daughter, Jane de la Pole, with a nun named Malyne de Cay. His marriage to Alice connected him to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, as she was his granddaughter.

William de la Pole died at the age of 53 on 2 May 1450, executed by beheading near Dover. He was buried in the Carthusian Priory in Hull, and his son John succeeded him as the 2nd Duke of Suffolk.