Grey, Lady Jane (1537-1554), became known as “the nine-day queen” of England. She was the great-granddaughter of King Henry VII of England, and daughter of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk. At the age of 15, she married Lord Guildford Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland.
As he lay dying from a fever and severe lung infection, King Edward VI decided to give Lady Jane, a Protestant, the right to succeed him as ruler. Edward feared that if the crown should descend to his half sister Mary, who was a Roman Catholic, England would no longer be a Protestant nation. Edward died on July 6, 1553. His death was kept secret for several days, and Lady Jane was proclaimed queen on July 10. But on July 19, Mary’s claims to the throne were recognized by the Privy Council. Lady Jane, who had not wanted the crown, was imprisoned in the Tower of London and charged with high treason. Later, Mary suspected Jane was involved in an uprising against her led by Sir Thomas Wyatt, an English soldier. Mary had Jane and her husband beheaded on Feb. 12, 1554. Lady Jane Grey was born in Bradgate, near Leicester.
