British Royalty. Born in Dublin the third son of Richard, Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. George was created Duke of Clarence in 1461. After his brother Edward attained the throne, the king placed his two younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in the household of his cousin the Earl of Warwick for tutoring and training. In 1469, George married Isabel Neville, elder daughter of the Earl of Warwick. George had actively supported his elder brother's claim to the throne, but following the king’s marriage to a commoner, a widow of a Lancastrian knight, even as Warwick was arranging a marriage for Edward IV to a French princess, many including George and his father-in-law, felt betrayed by Edward and the dynastic struggle known as the War of the Roses reignited. When Warwick deserted Edward to ally himself with Margaret of Anjou, George joined him in France. When Warwick hastily married or betrothed his younger daughter, Anne, to Henry VI's heir, however, George changed sides again. Because of his part in Warwick's rebellion, George was never again fully trusted by Edward IV. Eventually Edward could not afford his brother’s discontented though ineffectual plotting and had him imprisoned in the Tower of London and put on trial for treason, charges that have never been completely explained. Some historians believe that George had evidence that Edward IV's marriage was unlawful and that the king was pressured by his wife or her family to end the threat of exposure by executing his brother. The Duke of Gloucester protested loudly against the action. Following his conviction, George was "privately executed" at the Tower. A tradition grew up that he had been drowned in a butt (a barrel of 105 imperial gallons) of Malmsey wine rather than beheaded. The tradition may have originated as a joke, based on George’s reputation as a heavy drinker. He was buried beside his wife, Isabel, who had died in childbirth two years previously.

British Royalty. Born in Dublin the third son of Richard, Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. George was created Duke of Clarence in 1461. After his brother Edward attained the throne, the king placed his two younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in the household of his cousin the Earl of Warwick for tutoring and training. In 1469, George married Isabel Neville, elder daughter of the Earl of Warwick. George had actively supported his elder brother's claim to the throne, but following the king’s marriage to a commoner, a widow of a Lancastrian knight, even as Warwick was arranging a marriage for Edward IV to a French princess, many including George and his father-in-law, felt betrayed by Edward and the dynastic struggle known as the War of the Roses reignited. When Warwick deserted Edward to ally himself with Margaret of Anjou, George joined him in France. When Warwick hastily married or betrothed his younger daughter, Anne, to Henry VI's heir, however, George changed sides again. Because of his part in Warwick's rebellion, George was never again fully trusted by Edward IV. Eventually Edward could not afford his brother’s discontented though ineffectual plotting and had him imprisoned in the Tower of London and put on trial for treason, charges that have never been completely explained. Some historians believe that George had evidence that Edward IV's marriage was unlawful and that the king was pressured by his wife or her family to end the threat of exposure by executing his brother. The Duke of Gloucester protested loudly against the action. Following his conviction, George was "privately executed" at the Tower. A tradition grew up that he had been drowned in a butt (a barrel of 105 imperial gallons) of Malmsey wine rather than beheaded. The tradition may have originated as a joke, based on George’s reputation as a heavy drinker. He was buried beside his wife, Isabel, who had died in childbirth two years previously.

Bio by: Iola