English Monarch. The only son of Henry VIII, he was born at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. His mother Jane Seymour died shortly after his birth. Edward was often sick as a child, which prompted Henry to remarry three more times in hopes of more heirs. There were no more children, and all of Henry's hopes were pinned on the frail Edward. Despite his weakness, Edward was very well educated and was a bright student. He spoke Latin by the age of seven, and later learned French and Greek. By the age of 13 he was translating books into Greek. He inherited the throne upon his father's death in 1547, and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on February 22. He was only nine years old, so a council of 16 regents was appointed. Each had their own agenda, and within months Edward appointed a new council of only 6. Shortly after, his uncle Thomas Seymour, Duke of Somerset, had declared himself Lord Protector, and Edward was demoted to ceremonial rule. Seymour was deposed in 1549 by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, a schemer with an agenda of his own. Dudley did not make himself Lord Protector, and in fact encouraged Edward to proclaim his majority when he reached the age of 16. Unfortunately, Edward's health was failing, and by early 1553 he was dying. The succession was in jeopardy, and Dudley sought to keep the catholic Princess Mary from inheriting the throne. Using his cultivated influence over the dying king, he urged Edward to sign a pre-drafted (and illegal) will naming the king's cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir. Edward died at Greenwich, possibly of tuberculosis, at the age of 16.

English Monarch. The only son of Henry VIII, he was born at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. His mother Jane Seymour died shortly after his birth. Edward was often sick as a child, which prompted Henry to remarry three more times in hopes of more heirs. There were no more children, and all of Henry's hopes were pinned on the frail Edward. Despite his weakness, Edward was very well educated and was a bright student. He spoke Latin by the age of seven, and later learned French and Greek. By the age of 13 he was translating books into Greek. He inherited the throne upon his father's death in 1547, and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on February 22. He was only nine years old, so a council of 16 regents was appointed. Each had their own agenda, and within months Edward appointed a new council of only 6. Shortly after, his uncle Thomas Seymour, Duke of Somerset, had declared himself Lord Protector, and Edward was demoted to ceremonial rule. Seymour was deposed in 1549 by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, a schemer with an agenda of his own. Dudley did not make himself Lord Protector, and in fact encouraged Edward to proclaim his majority when he reached the age of 16. Unfortunately, Edward's health was failing, and by early 1553 he was dying. The succession was in jeopardy, and Dudley sought to keep the catholic Princess Mary from inheriting the throne. Using his cultivated influence over the dying king, he urged Edward to sign a pre-drafted (and illegal) will naming the king's cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir. Edward died at Greenwich, possibly of tuberculosis, at the age of 16.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad