nt, but the relation
between them was less cordial after the _coup d'etat_, of which the
count had by anticipation expressed his strong disapproval. His
appointment to the post of director of fine arts was announced only a
few days before his death, which occurred on the 4th of August 1852.

Much information as to the life and character of Count D'Orsay is to
be found in Richard Madden's _Literary Life and Correspondence of the
Countess of Blessington_ (1855).

DORSET, EARLS, MARQUESSES AND DUKES OF, English titles one or more of
which have been borne by the families of Beaufort, Grey and Sackville.
About 1070 Osmund, or Osmer, an alleged son of Henry, count of Seez, by
a sister of William the Conqueror, is said to have been created earl of
Dorset, but the authority is a very late one and Osmund describes
himself simply as bishop (of Salisbury). William de Mohun of Dunster, a
partisan of the empress Matilda, appears as earl of Dorset or Somerset,
these two shires being in early times united under a single sheriff. In
1397 John Beaufort, earl of Somerset (d. 1410), the eldest son of John
of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and Catherine Swinford, was created
marquess of Dorset; two years later, however, he was reduced to his
former rank of earl of Somerset. In 1411 his brother Thomas, afterwards
duke of Exeter, was created earl of Dorset, and in 1441 his youngest son
Edmund obtained the same dignity. Two years later Edmund was created
marquess of Dorset and still later duke of Somerset. Edmund's son Henry,
duke of Somerset and marquess of Dorset, was attainted during the Wars
of the Roses, and was beheaded after the battle of Hexham in May 1464,
when the titles became extinct. In 1475 Thomas Grey, 8th Lord Ferrers of
Groby (1451-1501), a son of Sir John Grey (d. 1461) and a stepson of
King Edward IV., having resigned the earldom of Huntingdon, which he had
received in 1471, was created marquess of Dorset (see below). He was
succeeded in this title by his son Thomas (1477-1530), and then by his
grandson Henry (c. 1510-1554), who was created duke of Suffolk in 1551.
When in February 1554 Suffolk was beheaded for sharing in the rising of
Sir Thomas Wyat, the marquessate of Dorset again became extinct; but in
1604 Thomas Sackville (see the account of the family under SACKVILLE,
1ST BARON) was created earl of Dorset (see below), and his descendant
the 7th earl was created duke in 1720. In 1843 the titles became
extinct.