Lady Jane Grey

1537–1554

LADY JANE GREY

Lady Jane Grey was a great-grand-daughter of Henry VII, but her descent was traced through the female line, her grandmother being the elder sister of Henry VIII. Her parents were very strict, but she was exceptionally bright, and with the help of a tutor, showed herself to be an exceptional student. She mastered Greek, Latin French and Italian, and many other subjects at a very young age.

She was at one time considered as a bride for Edward VI of England, but he died at a young age, before any marriage was consummated. Instead, she was forced to marry Lord Dudley, the son of the Duke of Northumberland, who, against her wishes, proclaimed her Queen of England. This attempt to prevent Mary I, the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and a Roman Catholic, from assuming the throne however, was doomed to failure, and Jane was tried for treason. She was sentenced to death, but was spared by Queen Mary, who was fond of her cousin, and did not blame her for the rebellion. Unfortunately, another protestant rebellion broke out the following year, which again had the object of placing Lady Jane on the throne. This time, in spite of her personal innocence, Lady Jane was executed along with all of the other conspirators.

Key events during the life of Lady Jane Grey:

Year	Event
1537	Lady Jane is born.
1546	Sent to live with Catherine Parr, sixth bride of Henry VIII.
1552	Death of Duke of Somerset; rise of Duke of Northumberland
1553	Death of Edward VI; Marriage to Lord Dudley
1553	Northumberland proclaims Lady Jane Queen of England; deposed after nine days.
1554	Protestant rebellion led by Thomas Wyatt.
1554	Lady Jane is executed after second rebellion

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Lady Jane Grey  in	Queen Elizabeth  by  Jacob Abbott
Story of Lady Jane Grey  in	Our Island Story  by  H. E. Marshall
Lady Jane Grey  in	Great Englishwomen  by  M. B. Synge

Image Links
Lady Jane Grey at Study  in Queen Elizabeth	Offering the Crown to Lady Jane Grey  in  The Story of the English	Her friends and relations pressing Lady Jane Grey to accept the crown  in The Tudors and the Stuarts
Lady Jane Grey  in The Tudors and the Stuarts

Contemporary	Short Biography
Mary Tudor	Eldest daughter of Henry VIII. Tried to restore Catholicism to England.
Edward VI	Raised as a protestant, Edward's brief reign was controlled largely by his uncles, the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland.
Duke of Somerset	Regent of Edward VI who fell from power and was executed for Treason
Duke of Northumberland	Regent of Edward VI, who tried to make Jane Grey Queen of England.
Elizabeth I	Led England through tumultuous age of reformation and discovery. Reigned 45 years.