George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence

George Plantagenet
Duke of Clarence
Born21 October 1449
Dublin Castle, Ireland
Died18 February 1478(1478-02-18) (aged 28)
Tower of London
Burial25 February 1478
Spouse
(m. 1469; died 1476)
Issue
more...
HouseYork
FatherRichard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
MotherCecily Neville

George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence (21 October 1449  18 February 1478), was the sixth child and third surviving son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the brother of English kings Edward IV and Richard III. He played an important role in the dynastic struggle between rival factions of the Plantagenets now known as the Wars of the Roses.

Though a member of the House of York, he switched sides to support the House of Lancaster, before reverting to the Yorkists. He was later convicted of treason against his elder brother, Edward IV, and executed, allegedly by drowning in malmsey wine. He appears as a character in William Shakespeare's plays Henry VI, Part 3 and Richard III, in which his death is attributed to the machinations of Richard.