Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My wife's ancestors - Dudley - Contents


John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland



John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
Painted some time after his death, 1605-1608.
See full size. From here.



John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (see here), born 1504,
1st (and only) Duke of Northumberland,
1st Earl of Warwick, 1st Viscount Lisle.

He mar 1525 to Jane Guildford [born 1509, dau of Sir Edward Guildford].
He was cr Viscount Lisle 1543.
Lord High Admiral (head of the Royal Navy) 1543-47. He re-organised the English navy.
He became one of the Protestant leaders at the court of Henry VIII.
Henry VIII died January 1547.

Dudley and Edward Seymour became the leaders of the regency of the boy king Edward VI (reigned 1547-53).
He was cr Earl of Warwick 1547.
Lord High Admiral 1549-50.
He defeated Kett's Rebellion Aug 1549.
He overthrew Edward Seymour in Oct 1549.
He became Lord President of the Council Feb 1550. He effectively ruled England 1550-53.
He was cr Duke of Northumberland 1551.
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1552-53.

Lady Jane Grey plot and execution, 1553:
As Edward VI was dying with no heir, Dudley planned to make his daughter-in-law, the teenage Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England, and hence to effectively rule himself. Edward VI named her as his successor in June 1553.
Edward VI died 6 July 1553. Jane was Queen for 9 days in July 1553, but was rapidly deposed by Mary.
After Lady Jane's fall, Dudley tried to escape execution by renouncing Protestantism, saying "A living dog is better than a dead lion". This earned widespread contempt. Lady Jane said: "I pray God I, nor no friend of mine die so".

Like his father back in 1510, he was executed (beheaded) at Tower Hill, 22 Aug 1553, age 49 yrs.
He was bur in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. No monument.
See images.
Jane Guildford died 1555, age 46 yrs.
Dudley and Jane Guildford had issue:


  1. Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, born c.1530.
    He mar 3rdly, 1565 [him age c.35, her age 16] to Anne Russell [born 1549].
    She was a close friend of Elizabeth I.
    He died 1590.
    She died 1604.


  2. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, born 1532.
    Favourite of Elizabeth I.


  3. Lord Guildford Dudley, born 1536.
    He mar 21 May 1553 [him age 17, her age 15] to Lady Jane Grey.
    He was executed 12 Feb 1554, age 18 yrs.
    He was bur in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. No monument.


  4. Lady Mary Dudley.
    She mar Sir Henry Sidney, K.G. and had issue.






John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, 1545.
From here.



John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
From Tudor Place.



John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
From NPG. See terms of use.
See images at [NPG].




Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London



Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London (burial place of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and others executed there).
Photo 2003. See full size.
From Lara Eakins. See terms of use.
Search for more photos and Creative Commons photos of chapel.



Plaque on wall of Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, listing some of those buried there with no monument (after their execution).
Image courtesy of The Anne Boleyn Files.
See full size.



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