Sir Hugh Luttrell Sir Hugh Luttrell ( about 1364 – 24 March 1428 ) was an English nobleman and politician , who was an important military officer during the Hundred Years ' War . He was a close associate of his cousin , Richard II of England , and was one of his most valuable advisors . He was also an esquire of John of Gaunt , and an extremely close friend to Queen Anne of Bohemia . He was an MP for Somerset and Devon . Biography . Sir Hugh Luttrell was born in Dunster , a son of Elizabeth Courtenay , great - granddaughter of Edward I of England , and Sir Andrew Lutrell of Chilton . Sir Andrew was a direct descendant of an Irish noble family : the Luttrells , who were the original Earls of Carhampton . The family had strong ties with the Plantagenets , to which they were related . Given her loyal servitude to the royal family , Elizabeth received 200 pounds from her close cousin , Richard II of England . Courtenay used this loan to buy large properties of land , which increased the family ' s wealth by leaps and bounds . This act would make Sir Hugh famous throughout England . In 1378 , Hugh ' s father died abrubtly , and in 1379 , he began his own career . When he was about 16 , he became an esquire to John of Gaunt . He served Gaunt for about 12 years , and switched his services to the English Queen , Anne of Bohemia . They became very close , and Anne granted him numerous plots of land for his servitude and good nature , which boosted his social standing among the English nobility . Hugh again switched his services , this time to his cousin , Richard II . Hugh soon became the bearer of numerous titles , like Constable of Leed ' s Castle ( 1393 – 1399 ) , and Keeper of her Forest of Gillingham in 1399 . Sir Hugh ' s loyalty to Richard II was unbreakable , right up to his imprisonment . After all , he was one of the King ' s closest retainers and advisors . After the monarch ' s murder , Hugh felt sorrow for his cousin . However , his switching sides to the new king , Henry IV of England ( also known as Henry of Bolingbroke ) , doubled his fortunes drastically . He flourished during Henry ' s reign , mostly because of his family ' s prominence , and usefulness to the king . In 1400 , he sailed to Calais , in the company of his uncle , Sir Peter , who had become the commander of the English garrison there . Luttrell spent three years being the deputy Lieutenant of Calais ( 1400 – 1403 ) , and devoted his time in that job to politics . He discussed numerous peace talks with French officials , and numerous other governmental matters . In 1403 , he was assigned with Sir Thomas Swineburn and John Urban to renew a peace treaty with Flanders . The talks were harsh , as surviving documents say , and the three Englishmen left Flanders , with an impression that the Flemings were not to be trusted . When he arrived back in England in 1404 , he was elected to the English Parliament for the first time , and faced a serious dilemma . On 6 October 1404 , Lady Mohun , a noblewoman that had sold vast plots of land to Hugh ' s late mother , Elizabeth , had died at Canterbury . This was a serious blow to Luttrell , who had inherited Mohun ' s estates from his mother . After Lady Mohun ' s death , her heirs and Luttrell began a fierce legal battle over whom would own the estates . The battle went in Hugh ' s favor for a period of time , when copies of Mohun ' s will were handed over to him . The crown gave him full seisin over the properties , and the legal battle quieted down for a while . However , the legal battle had to be resolved , and in May 1405 Parliament intervened . A year passed with no clear victor , and the House of Commons of England stepped in , this time on Luttrell ' s side . The debating went on for two more years , and in 1408 Luttrell prevailed , paying 100 marks for his succession to the barony . Through 1406 – 1414 , little was known of Hugh ' s activities . It is known that he was present at Glastonbury Abbey in 1408 , with scores of other influential noblemen . It was then and there that Archbishop Thomas Arundel made a visit to them , and discussed important political and religious matters with the noblemen . In 1410 , the Queen of England , Joan of Navarre , made Luttrell her steward , a task which he enjoyed . When Henry V of England ascended to the throne in 1415 , Sir Hugh ' s popularity increased . He traveled to France with the English army , to re - incite the 100 Years ' War . He proved to be a daring leader , and was one of the key commanders at the Siege of Harfleur , and at the Siege of Rouen . After the siege , he returned home to England , and in 1417 , he entered the service of Henry V , becoming one of his most loyal retainers . Throughout the rest of his life , he would have a splendid relationship with the king . In February 1417 , he was appointed Lieutenant of Harfleur and embarked to France , where the war was still being fought , in the retinue of Thomas Montacute , 4th Earl of Salisbury . Luttrell had his own private battalion , consisting of 20 men - at - arms and 60 archers . After assuming command over the city of Harfleur in 1418 , he was given orders by his superiors to manage the English garrison there , and hang any deserters . During that same year , Sir Hugh negotiated the surrender of the French Captains of Montivilliers and Fécamp . In 1419 , he also negotiated the surrender of the town of Montreuil , and many others . In July 1419 , Luttrell was appointed the Royal Seneschal of Normandy by Henry V , a position he held for two years ( 1419 – 1421 ) . Sir Hugh thus became the ruler of one of the most important places in medieval France . Luttrell was thrilled with governing his new domain , describing himself as the " gret Seneschal of Normandie . " Sir Hugh kept Normandy under the mighty fist of the English , which Henry V of England benefited from greatly . In 1420 , Luttrell corresponded with the king many times , praising Henry ' s marriage to Catherine of Valois , saying in a letter that it caused him : " the gretest gladnesse and consolation that ever came unto my herte . " He also reported to King Henry about the state of the country , saying : " ther ys no steryng of none evyl doers ( there is no stirring of none evil - doers ) " , and also informed the king of the poverty of the country . In 1421 , he was relieved of his duties as Seneschal of Normandy and Lieutenant of Harfleur , and was ordered to return to England . Upon arriving in England , Hugh met with many members of English nobility , and royal officials . He was also occupied with many royal assignments , which continued up to his death . On 24 March 1428 , Sir Hugh Luttrell fell gravely ill and died on a visit to one of his daughters , a nun at Shaftesbury . A large funeral procession followed his coffin on the way to Dunster . After he was buried , a monument was built in his memory at the Dunster church . At that moment , one of the most influential figures in medieval England , a man who had lived through three reigns , was put to rest . Marriage and issue . In 1384 , Sir Hugh Luttrell married Katherine Beaumont , daughter of Sir John Beaumont of Staunton and Sherwell . They had six children : Famous descendants . Sir Hugh Luttrell ' s famous descendants include : Robert Carter I : A wealthy Virginia colonist and slave - owner , one of the most richest men in Virginia at his time . Benjamin Harrison V : A famed American revolutionary and founding father of the United States of America . William Henry Harrison : 9th President of the United States , American General during the War of 1812 . Benjamin Harrison : 23rd President of the United States .