English Nobility. 1st Earl of Hertford. Edward was the son of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and his wife Anne Stanhope. Some sources cite his birthdate as 12 October, 1537. He was a nephew of Queen Jane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII. He fell in love with Catherine Grey, daughter of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk and younger sister of the famous Lady Jane Grey. They were secretly married in December of 1560. Because Catherine was a legitimate heir to the throne, she could not marry without the consent of Queen Elizabeth. When the marriage was discovered upon the birth of their first son, Edward Lord Beauchamp in 1561, the couple was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Lax security in the tower led to another pregnancy, resulting in the birth of their son Thomas in 1563. Enraged, Queen Elizabeth separated the couple and exiled them from court. Edward would never see his wife again. Following Catherine's death in 1568, Edward was allowed back at court, though his sons remained officially illegitimate. Edward seems to have had a penchant for clandestine marriages. In 1582 he secretly wed Frances Howard, a gentlewoman of the privy chamber. Their marriage remained a secret for nearly a decade. In an effort to clear his sons' claim to the throne, he attempted to have the marriage set aside in 1595, and he was promptly thrown into the Tower once again for his pains. Following Frances' death in 1598, he married - again in secret - the widow Frances Prannell, who was, ironically, born Frances Howard. Edward lived the rest of his life quietly, under the political radar, and died at Netley having reached the incredible age (at that time) of 81.
English Nobility. 1st Earl of Hertford. Edward was the son of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and his wife Anne Stanhope. Some sources cite his birthdate as 12 October, 1537. He was a nephew of Queen Jane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII. He fell in love with Catherine Grey, daughter of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk and younger sister of the famous Lady Jane Grey. They were secretly married in December of 1560. Because Catherine was a legitimate heir to the throne, she could not marry without the consent of Queen Elizabeth. When the marriage was discovered upon the birth of their first son, Edward Lord Beauchamp in 1561, the couple was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Lax security in the tower led to another pregnancy, resulting in the birth of their son Thomas in 1563. Enraged, Queen Elizabeth separated the couple and exiled them from court. Edward would never see his wife again. Following Catherine's death in 1568, Edward was allowed back at court, though his sons remained officially illegitimate. Edward seems to have had a penchant for clandestine marriages. In 1582 he secretly wed Frances Howard, a gentlewoman of the privy chamber. Their marriage remained a secret for nearly a decade. In an effort to clear his sons' claim to the throne, he attempted to have the marriage set aside in 1595, and he was promptly thrown into the Tower once again for his pains. Following Frances' death in 1598, he married - again in secret - the widow Frances Prannell, who was, ironically, born Frances Howard. Edward lived the rest of his life quietly, under the political radar, and died at Netley having reached the incredible age (at that time) of 81.
Bio by: Kristen Conrad
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