Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour was born in 1508, possibly in Wulfhall, Wiltshire, England, to Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth. She was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII, from their marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death in 1537. Jane's life was not without controversy; she became queen after the execution of King Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was accused by King Henry of adultery after failing to produce a male heir. However, Jane died less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, the future King Edward VI. Although not as highly educated as Henry's previous wives, Jane was proficient in needlework and household management, skills considered extremely important for women of that era.

Despite her minimal formal education, Jane served her roles dutifully and was respected for her calming influence at court. Her stint as a maid-of-honour started around 1532 under Queen Catherine, and she later served Queen Anne alongside her sister Elizabeth. Jane was notably compassionate; her willingness to advocate for the pardoning of the rebels involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace is a testament to her kind-hearted nature. Her death in 1537 was a tragic event, largely defined by postnatal complications following the birth of her son. Jane was the only one of Henry's wives to receive a queen's funeral, and upon his death, King Henry VIII was buried next to her, as per his request.