John
Dudley was born in 1501. His father, Edmund Dudley, was a government
official working for Henry
VIII,
but was executed for corruption. Dudley was brought up by Richard
Guildford. In 1520 Dudley married Richard Guildford's daughter, Jane.
In
1523 Dudley accompanied Richard Guildford and Charles Brandon in a
military campaign in France. On his return he was elected to the House
of Commons.
Dudley
also fought in Scotland and in 1542 was
rewarded with the title, Viscount Lisle. When Henry
VIII died
in 1547, Edward
was too young to rule, so his uncle, Edward
Seymour, Duke of Somerset, took over the running of the country.
Dudley now joined the Privy Council.
In August, 1549, Dudley
led the successful military campaign against John
Kett. Two months later Dudley helped to overthrow Edward
Seymour, Duke of Somerset and in
October, 1549, he was imprisoned in the Tower
of London.
Seymour
was released in 1550 and allowed to return to the Privy Council. Seymour
soon got involved in a conspiracy and he was once again arrested and
was executed on 22nd January, 1552.
Dudley, now the Duke of Northumberland, was now the most important
political figure in England.
Edward
was suffering from tuberculosis
and as his health deteriorated, Dudley
persuaded the king to alter the succession in favour of his own daughter-in-law,
Lady Jane Grey. She was declared queen
three days after Edward's death. However, she was forced to abdicate
nine days later in favour of Edward's half-sister, Mary
Tudor.
John Dudley was executed
for treason on 22nd August, 1554. His son, Robert
Dudley was also
found guilty of treason but was pardoned by Mary's husband, Philip
II of Spain.
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