Edward VI

Edward VI (1537–53) was the only legitimate son of Henry VIII and became king of England at the age of nine following his father's death in 1547. Edward's mother was Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour, who died 12 days after his birth on 12 October 1537. Edward suffered with poor health and died at the age of 15 in July 1553 after showing signs of tuberculosis. One of his final acts was to write a "devise for the succession" that omitted his sisters Mary and Elizabeth and, in its final form, made his cousin Lady Jane Grey his successor