Born – c. 1500
Died – 22nd January 1552 (executed)
Father – John Seymour (1474 – 1536)
Mother – Margery Wentworth (1478 – 1550)
Spouses – m. 1526 – Catherine Filiol (1507 – 1535), m. 1535 – Anne Stanhope
Children – by Catherine: John (1527 – 1552), Edward (1528 – 1593);
by Anne: Edward (1537 – 1559), Anne, Edward, Henry, Margaret, Jane, Catherine, Edward, Mary, Elizabeth
1500 (around)
Edward Seymour was born to Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth probably at Wulfhall, Wiltshire. He was the couple’s second son, he had an elder brother, John.
1503 (during)
Edward’s brother, Henry Seymour, was born to Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth probably at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1507 (around)
Edward’s sister, Jane Seymour, was born to Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth probably at the family residence of Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1508 (around)
Edward’s brother, Thomas Seymour, was born to Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1509 (21st April)
King Henry VII died. He was succeeded by his son Henry who became King Henry VIII.
1510 (15th July)
Edward’s brother John died.
1513 (during)
Edward’s father, John was made a Knight Banneret by King Henry VIII.
1514 (October)
Edward Seymour was appointed a member of the household of Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor, who was to marry the King of France, Louis XII.
1514 (9th October)
Mary Tudor married Louis XII of France at Abbeville Cathedral.
1514 (5th November)
Mary Tudor was crowned Queen of France at St Denis’ Cathedral, Paris.
1515 (1st January)
Mary’s husband, King Louis XII of France died.
1515 (Spring)
Edward returned to England.
1516 (around)
Edward’s sister, Margery, was born to John Seymour and Margery Wentworth at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1518 (around)
Edward’s sister, Elizabeth, was born to John Seymour and Margery Wentworth at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1519 (around)
Edward’s sister, Dorothy, was born to John Seymour and Margery Wentworth at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.
1523 (early September)
On the instructions of Henry VIII, the Duke of Suffolk invaded France with instructions to lay siege to Boulogne. Edward served under Suffolk.
1523 (November)
Although the campaign in France ended in failure, Edward Seymour was knighted by the Duke of Suffolk, for his service.
1526 (around)
Edward married Catherine Filliol, daughter of Sir William Filliol .
1527 (during)
A son John was born to Edward and Catherine Seymour
1527 (during)
Some sources indicate that John Seymour had an affair with Edward’s wife Catherine.
1528 (around)
A son Edward was born to Edward and Catherine Seymour.
1528 (during)
Edward’s sister Margery died.
1529 (around)
Edward’s sister Jane, may have served as a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon.
1529 (during)
Edward was appointed Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII.
1533 (25th January)
King Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn who was pregnant with his child.
1533 (May)
Edward’s sister, Jane, became a member of Anne Boleyn’s household.
1533 (7th September)
A daughter, Elizabeth was born to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
1535 (March)
Edward Seymour married Anne Stanhope, daughter and heiress of Sir Edward Stanhope.
1535 (4th September)
The royal progress visited the Seymour family home, Wulfhall in Wiltshire.
1535 (November)
King Henry VIII began to take an interest in Edward’s sister, Jane.
1536 (24th January)
King Henry fell from his horse during a joust and was unconscious for two hours. The fall caused a head injury that left him more bad tempered than before and also opened up an old wound on his leg that would cause him problems for the rest of his life.
1536 (29th January)
Anne Boleyn miscarried of a son four months into her pregnancy. She blamed the miscarriage on concern following Henry’s fall and Henry’s interest in Jane Seymour.
1536 (February)
King Henry began spent a lot more time with Jane Seymour. Edward acted as chaperone for the couple.
1536 (3rd March)
Edward, was appointed a Gentleman of the King’s Privy Chamber.
1536 (Spring)
Anne Boleyn was charged with treason for committing adultery with a number of men.
1536 (April)
Jane Seymour was sent home to Wulfhall. Henry did not want her at court while a case was being made against Anne Boleyn.
1536 (4th May)
Jane, took up residence at Beddington Park in Surrey so that Henry could visit her in secret.
1536 (6th May)
King Henry VIII had moved to Hampton Court and began making preparations for his marriage to Jane Seymour.
1536 (15th May)
Anne Boleyn was tried by 26 peers of the realm including her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, who presided over the trial. Although Anne argued her innocence she was found guilty and sentenced to die by burning or beheading whichever the King chose.
1536 (18th May)
Thomas Cranmer found that Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn was null and void due to Henry’s earlier affair with Mary Boleyn.
1536 (19th May)
Anne Boleyn was executed by beheading with a single stroke of the sword. She was buried in the choir of the royal chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
1536 (20th May)
Henry VIII was formally betrothed to Jane Seymour at Hampton Court.
1536 (30th May)
Henry VIII married Jane Seymour in the Queen’s Closet at Whitehall.
1536 (4th June)
Jane Seymour, was proclaimed Queen of England at a ceremony at Greenwich.
1536 (5th June)
Edward, was created Viscount Beauchamp.
1536 (7th June)
Edward’s sister, Queen Jane, made her official state entry into London accompanied by Henry. Crowds of people lined the streets and many cheered as she went past.
1536 (July)
Act of Succession
This act cancelled the two previous acts of succession and registered the invalidity of Henry’s first two marriages. Elizabeth was now given the same status as Mary and the succession was settled on the children of Henry and Jane Seymour.
This act cancelled the two previous acts of succession and registered the invalidity of Henry’s first two marriages. Elizabeth was now given the same status as Mary and the succession was settled on the children of Henry and Jane Seymour.
1536 (21st December)
Edward’s father, John Seymour, died at Wulfhall. He was buried at Easton Priory.
1537 (Spring)
Jane Seymour announced that she was pregnant and that she believed the baby would be born in the middle of October.
1537 (early September)
The Court moved to Hampton Court to await the birth of Jane’s baby.
1537 (3rd August)
Edward’s sister, Elizabeth, married Thomas Cromwell’s son, Gregory.
1537 (12th October)
A son, Edward was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope. He was styled Viscount Beauchamp of Hache.
1537 (12th October)
After a very difficult labour Jane Seymour was delivered of a baby boy. King Henry VIII was overjoyed and named the child Edward and created him Duke of Cornwall. Heralds were dispatched to every part of the country with the news.
1537 (15th October)
Prince Edward was christened at midnight at Hampton Court. His godparents were the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Cranmer and Lady Mary.
1536 (15th October)
Edward, was created Earl of Hertford.
1537 (16th October)
Jane Seymour was taken ill with diarrhoea and sickness.
1537 (24th October)
Jane Seymour died. Her death may have been caused by puerperal fever brought about by infection caused by her diarrhoea and sickness.
1538 (during)
A daughter, Anne was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1539 (early)
Edward’s son, Edward, died.
1539 (22nd May)
A son, Edward was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1540 (during)
A son, Henry was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1540 (during)
A daughter, Margaret was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1540 (during)
Edward made a change to his will which provided for his children by Catherine to be excluded.
1541 (during)
A daughter, Jane was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1542 (September)
Edward, was created Warden of the Scottish Marches.
1544 (March)
Seymour was created Lieutenant-General of the North. He was given instructions to punish the Scots for repudiating the Treaty of Greenwich which provided for a marriage between Mary Queen of Scots and Prince Edward.
1544 (3rd May)
Seymour, at the head of an army, captured Edinburgh and lay waste to villages in the surrounding area.
1544 (14th July)
King Henry VIII and an army of 40,000 men crossed the Channel to Calais.
1544 (26th July)
The English army lay siege to Boulogne. Henry personally directed military operations from a building which had been especially erected to the North of the town.
1544 (August)
Seymour joined the English army at the siege of Boulogne.
1544 (13th September)
The English army took Boulogne.
1544 (30th September)
The army returned England triumphant.
1545 (January)
Edward Seymour was given command of Boulogne.
1545 (May)
Seymour was instructed to march north and avenge the English defeat at the Battle of Ancrum Moor.
1545 (September)
Seymour made a series of raids into Scotland.
1546 (March)
Edward returned to Boulogne.
1546 (June)
Seymour was present at negotiations for peace with France.
1546 (October)
Edward returned to England. With the King’s health failing he wanted to ensure that he gained prominence. Prince Edward was still a minor and Seymour wanted to head the regency council.
1546 (December)
The Duke of Norfolk’s son, the Earl of Surrey, was accused of indulging in vices, failing to observe Lent and stating that if the King were to die then his father could be King. He was also implicated in a plot to remove the Queen and replace her with the Duchess of Richmond.
1546 (12th December)
The Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Surrey were arrested and sent to the Tower.
1547 (19th January)
The Earl of Surrey, Henry Howard, was beheaded on Tower Hill. His father’s execution was scheduled for the following week, 28th January.
1547 (23rd January)
Henry revealed the names of those that he had chosen to form a Regency Council after his death. Top of the list was Edward Seymour who was to be Lord Protector for Edward.
1547 (28th January)
King Henry VIII died at 2am at Whitehall Palace. His son, Edward, became King Edward VI.
1547 (28th January)
As was the custom when a monarch died, all those imprisoned in the Tower of London were pardoned. This included the Duke of Norfolk who had been scheduled to be executed later that day.
1547 (28th January)
Edward rode to collect Edward and brought him to London where he was officially proclaimed King Edward VI.
1547 (4th February)
Seymour gained approval of the majority of the council for him to have the title “Protector of all the realms and dominions of the King’s Majesty”.
1547 (20th February)
Edward was crowned King Edward VI of England at Westminster Abbey. After the ceremony a banquet was held in Westminster Hall.
1547 (16th February)
Edward Seymour became the Duke of Somerset. His brother, Thomas Seymour became Baron Seymour of Sudeley Castle and was created Lord High Admiral.
1547 (March)
King Edward signed a document giving Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, the power to appoint members of the Privy Council and to consult with them at his own choosing. This effectively gave him full control of the country. This move was only opposed by Thomas Seymour and Chancellor, Thomas Wriothesley. Wriothesley was dismissed from office soon afterwards.
1547 (4th May)
Edward’s brother, Thomas, secretly married Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s widow. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey both lived in Parr’s household.
1547 (10th September)
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Seymour led the English army to victory over the Scots. He hoped to persuade the Scots to make alliance with England and allow the marriage of King Edward to Mary Queen of Scots to go ahead.
Seymour led the English army to victory over the Scots. He hoped to persuade the Scots to make alliance with England and allow the marriage of King Edward to Mary Queen of Scots to go ahead.
1548 (during)
A daughter, Catherine was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1548 (during)
A son, Edward was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1548 (August)
It was learned that Mary Queen of Scots had been smuggled out of Scotland to France where she married the Dauphin, Francis.
1548 (5th September)
Katherine Parr died six days after giving birth to a daughter, Mary Seymour.
1548 (late)
Thomas Seymour sent letters to Lady Elizabeth suggesting a marriage between them. Elizabeth ignored the letters.
1549 (16th January)
Edward’s brother, Thomas Seymour was arrested and charged with treason for plotting to marry Princess Elizabeth and to abduct King Edward.
1549 (21st January)
Act of Uniformity
With the young King Edward’s full approval, Edward Seymour introduced the Protestant Book of Common Prayer and outlawed many Roman Catholic practices. The clergy were given permission to marry.
With the young King Edward’s full approval, Edward Seymour introduced the Protestant Book of Common Prayer and outlawed many Roman Catholic practices. The clergy were given permission to marry.
1549 (20th March)
Thomas Seymour was executed by beheading.
1549 (April)
A number of revolts against the Book of Common Prayer broke out. The most serious rebellions were in Devon and Cornwall.
1549 (Spring)
There were revolts against changes that were made to common grazing ground.
1549 (July)
Members of the Privy Council began to complain to Somerset about his government of the country, blaming the rioting on his proclamations.
1549 (August)
Henry II of France realised that England was weak and lay siege to Boulogne.
1549 (early October)
With protests against his rule from nobility and commons alike, Edward Seymour realised his position was in danger and took himself and King Edward to Windsor Castle.
1549 (11th October)
Edward Seymour, Lord Somerset, was arrested by the Council and sent to the Tower of London.
1550 (January)
John Dudley realised that England could not afford to continue war with France and sent a delegation to negotiate peace.
1550 (early)
Seymour was released from the Tower and restored to the Council.
1550 (2nd February)
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick became leader of the Council.
1551 (11th October)
John Dudley became Duke of Northumberland.
1551 (16th October)
Seymour was arrested on a charge of trying to bring about Dudley’s fall from power. His sons by his first marriage, John and Edward were also arrested
1552 (during)
A daughter, Mary was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1552 (during)
A daughter, Elizabeth was born to Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope.
1552 (22nd January)
Edward Seymour was executed by beheading on Tower Hill. His remains were buried at St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London.
Published May 12, 2020 @ 1:45 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2020). Edward Seymour 1500 – 1552. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/edward-seymour-duke-of-somerset Last accessed [date]