Jane Seymour (c. 1508 – 24 October 1537) was Queen of England from 1536 to 1537 as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter\'s execution in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, a son who became King Edward VI. She was the only one of Henry\'s wives to receive a queen\'s funeral, and his only consort to be buried beside him in St George\'s Chapel, Windsor Castle.\n', '

Jane, the daughter of Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth was probably born at Wulfhall, Wiltshire, although West Bower Manor in Somerset has also been suggested, Her birth date and place are not recorded, but it is generally estimated as occurring in or around 1508. Through her maternal grandfather, she was a descendant of King Edward III\'s son Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence. Because of this, she and King Henry VIII were fifth cousins. She shared a great-grandmother, Elizabeth Cheney, with his second and fifth wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.\n', '

She was not as highly educated as Henry\'s first and second wives, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. She could read and write a little, but was much better at needlework and household management, which were considered much more necessary for women. Jane\'s needlework was reported to be beautiful and elaborate; some of her work survived as late as 1652, when it is recorded to have been given to the Seymour family. After her death, it was noted that Henry was an "enthusiastic embroiderer."\n', '

Return to Jane Seymour Autograph Profile