Seymour, Jane

Seymour, Jane, 1509?–1537, third queen consort of Henry VIII of England. She served as a lady in waiting to both of Henry's first two queens, Katharine of Aragón and Anne Boleyn. Henry became interested in her c.1535, but Jane refused to accept any proposal other than marriage. This was a strong factor in the institution of trial proceedings against Anne Boleyn. Jane and Henry were married (1536) less than two weeks after Anne's execution. Jane was a partisan of Katharine of Aragón and strove to reunite the king with Princess Mary. Parliament vested succession to the throne in Jane's issue, and in 1537 she gave birth to a son, later Edward VI. She died 12 days later.

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