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John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk.

John Howard (mid-1420s – August 22, 1485) was the son of Sir Robert Howard (?1385-1436) and Margaret Mowbray (?1391-1459), the eldest daughter of Thomas Mowbray (1366-1399) and Elizabeth FitzAlan (1366-1425). He was created 1st Duke of Norfolk (of the 3rd creation) on June 28, 1483. The title had become extinct, firstly upon the death of John de Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk (1444–1476), who had been 4th Duke of Norfolk (of the 1st creation) from 1461 until 1476, and again upon the illegitimisation on June 25, 1483 of Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, who had been created Duke of Norfolk after marrying Anne Mowbray, the daughter of the late Norfolk.

John Howard was known as "Jack (or "Jock," hence: "Jockey") of Norfolk". He had the support of Edward IV of England who made him Constable of Norwich Castle, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, Treasurer of the Royal Household. For his support of Richard III during the desposition of Edward V in 1483, he was created Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England, and Lord Admiral of all England, Ireland, and Aquitaine.

He was married first to Katherine Moleyns (1424-1465), the daughter of William de Moleyns and Margery Whalesborough; and then to Margaret Chedworth (1436-1494), the daughter of Sir John Chedworth and Margaret Bowett. ^[1] Margaret Bowett's parents were Nicholas Bowett of Rippingale, Lincolnshire, England and Elizabeth La Zouche of Harringworth, Northampton, England.

He died at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The night before, someone had left him a note warning him that King Richard III, his "master," was going to be double-crossed (which he was):

“Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold,

For Dickon, thy master, is bought and sold.”

He was buried in Thetford Priory, but his body seems to have been moved at the Reformation, possibly to the tomb of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk at Framlingham Church. The monumental brass of his first wife Katherine Moleyns can, however, still be seen in Suffolk.

He was the great-grandfather of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth Queen consorts, respectively, of Henry VIII of England. His daughter, Margaret, by Katherine Moleyns, married Sir John Wyndham. His son, Thomas, became duke after him.

• Dukes of Norfolk family tree

1. ^ Margaret Bowett's maiden name is sometimes thought to have been Wyfold, but this is an error of confusion since it was her daughter, Margaret Chedworth, who had originally married Nicholas Wyfold (1420-1456), the Lord Mayor of London, in 1455.

• Hunt, William (1891). "John Howard, first Duke of Norfolk". Dictionary of National Biography 28. 42-44.