Edward Seymour (1500-1552) - Find a Grave Memorial

Lord Protector of England. He was the eldest surviving son of Sir John Seymour, of Wolf Hall, Wiltshire, and his wife, the former Margery Wentworth. The Wars of the Roses had resulted in the decimation of the old English nobility and the advent of the Tudor monarchy allowed members of the landed gentry and talented members of other classes to be elevated, filling the vacuum created by the diminution of the older, pre-Tudor nobility. Appointed an Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII in 1529, his stature was immeasurably elevated by the marriage of his sister, Jane, to Henry VIII as the king's third wife on May 30, 1536, and by her giving birth to the king's only surviving legitimate son, the future Edward VI, on October 12, 1537. His sister's premature death did not terminate his usefulness to the king, who had shown him great favor. He was created Viscount Beauchamp on June 5, 1536; Earl of Hertford on October 15, 1537; and served as Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the great officers of state ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable, from about 1543. Seymour was a talented soldier and was appointed Warden of the Scottish Marches in 1542, and lieutenant of the realm in 1544 while the king was in France. Shortly preceding Henry VIII's death there was a brief power struggle over the Regency that would follow the king's death and the accession of his son, Edward VI, still a minor. Seymour would emerge triumphant in this struggle for power and was proclaimed Lord Protector of the Realm and Governor of the King's Person (February 10, 1547-October 10, 1549) and shortly thereafter, Lord High Treasurer (February 10, 1547 – October 10, 1549), providing him with the firm control of governmental finances. Unfortunately for Seymour, his skills as Lord Protector were not equal to the skill with which he was able to establish himself in that position, particularly with regard to how he handled a series of revolts in 1549, for which he was blamed. Seymour was removed as Lord Protector on the grounds of governmental mismanagement, but was allowed to remain on the Regency Council. He was subsequently charged with seeking to overthrow the government, more specifically replacing the new leadership of the Regency Council, led by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (1504-1553). Seymour was found guilty, sentenced to death, attainted, and beheaded on January 22, 1552.

Bio by: CMWJR