On this day in Tudor history, 16th July 1517, the feast of St Francis, Frances Brandon was born at Hatfield. She was the eldest daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Mary Tudor, widow of King Louis XII of France and sister of Henry VIII.
Frances married Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset (later Duke of Suffolk). They had three children: Jane, Katherine, and Mary.
Jane became queen in 1553, but only reigned for 13 days. Jane and Frances’s husband, Henry, were executed in February 1554.
Frances married Adrian Stokes in March 1554. The couple had at least one child, but none of them survived infancy. Frances died on 21st November 1559 and was buried in St Edmund’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey, on the orders of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
Click here to find out more about Frances Brandon.
Also on this day in Tudor history...
Image: Tomb effigy of Frances Grey (Brandon), Duchess of Suffolk
Very interesting political mover from the Tudor period. More should be written about her.