John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick facts for kids

John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick (born around 1527 – died 21 October 1554) was an English nobleman. He was the son and heir of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. His father was a very important minister and a regent (someone who rules for a young king) for King Edward VI from 1550 to 1553. As his father became more powerful, John Dudley took on his father's old titles, Viscount Lisle and Earl of Warwick. He loved art and science. Many books by famous scholars were dedicated to him.

John Dudley married Anne Seymour, the daughter of a powerful leader named Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. This marriage was meant to bring peace between their fathers. However, the fathers' rivalry continued, and Anne's father was later executed. In July 1553, after King Edward died, John Dudley helped his father try to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England. He even took up arms against Mary Tudor. This short fight ended when John and his father were captured. John Dudley was sentenced to death but was later pardoned. He died soon after being released from the Tower of London.

Growing Up and Learning

John Dudley was the third of thirteen children. His parents were Sir John Dudley and Jane Guildford. When John was born, his father was a young knight. His grandfather, Edmund Dudley, had been an advisor to King Henry VII.

John's father became very important in the navy. He was made Lord Admiral and later received the title of Earl of Warwick. The Dudley family was known for being happy and close. They were also part of the Protestant movement.

A Special Education

The Dudley children, including John, received a great education. They learned about Renaissance humanism (a way of thinking that focused on human values and achievements) and science. They had famous teachers like Roger Ascham and John Dee. John especially loved learning and art.

He had books dedicated to him by important scholars. For example, Walter Haddon's Cantabrigienses (1552) and Thomas Wilson's Arte of Rhetoricke (1553) were for him. Years after John died, John Dee dedicated his Mathematicall Praeface to Euclid's Elements (1570) to John's memory. Dee praised John's love for numbers and science. John Dudley even had his own small library. It contained books in French, Italian, and Latin.

Life at Court

John Dudley became his father's main heir after his older brother Henry died in 1544. Henry was killed during a battle in Boulogne under King Henry VIII.

At the coronation of Edward VI in 1547, John was made a Knight of the Bath. Soon after, his father became the Earl of Warwick. John then took his father's old title, Viscount Lisle. John and his brothers, Ambrose and Robert, often took part in fun events at court. These included tournaments and other celebrations.

A Big Wedding

On June 3, 1550, John Dudley married Anne Seymour. She was the oldest daughter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. He had been the Lord Protector (a powerful ruler) of England. Their wedding was a huge event. The twelve-year-old King Edward even attended it at the Sheen Palace.

King Edward wrote in his diary that he had a lot of fun. He watched pretend battles and plays. There was also a "fair dinner made," which was a huge feast. This marriage was supposed to show that the fathers of John and Anne were now friends. However, their fathers had been political rivals, and their peace did not last. John's father, the Earl of Warwick, became the leader of the English government. Anne's father, Somerset, tried to remove him and was executed in January 1552.

After King Edward made John's father the dukedom of Northumberland in October 1551, John Dudley became known as the Earl of Warwick. In April 1552, Warwick became Master of the Horse. This was an important job in the royal household. It was usually given to more experienced men.

The Downfall of a Family

In January 1553, King Edward VI became very ill. By early June, it was clear he would not recover. For over a year, people had suspected John's father, the Duke of Northumberland, was planning something big. He wanted to secure the throne for his family.

A New Plan for the Throne

The King's will, called "My Devise for the Succession," changed the rules for who would become king or queen. It skipped over his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. Instead, it named Lady Jane Grey as the next queen. Lady Jane Grey had recently married John Dudley's youngest brother, Lord Guildford Dudley.

The Earl of Warwick was one of many important people who signed the official papers on June 21. These papers were supposed to make Jane the Queen. When the Duke of Northumberland decided to fight against Mary Tudor on July 14, John went with him.

Capture and Imprisonment

They spent a week in Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. On July 20, they heard that the Council in London had declared Mary as Queen. Northumberland himself announced Mary Tudor as queen in Cambridge. John Dudley was with him. He even laughed so hard that tears ran down his cheeks, but it was from sadness.

The city that had welcomed the Duke now wanted to please the new queen. A large group of people surrounded King's College to arrest the Duke. John Dudley tried to resist arrest, unlike his father. However, it was too late. The Earl of Arundel arrived and arrested the Duke and his group. The prisoners were taken back to London. Guards had trouble protecting them from the angry crowds.

After a few days, almost all the Dudley family members were put in the Tower of London. All the men were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. John Dudley was tried on August 18, 1553. He pleaded guilty right away. His father asked for mercy for his children, saying they only followed his orders.

A Brief Hope and Sad End

John's father was supposed to be executed on August 21. But the execution was suddenly canceled. Instead, he publicly changed his religion to Catholic. This was a big win for the new Catholic government. However, his father was still executed the next day. An hour before his father's execution, John Dudley also received a religious ceremony. Then he returned to his prison cell.

From mid-September, John's wife was allowed to visit him. In February 1554, a rebellion led to the executions of Jane Grey and her husband, Guildford Dudley. John, Ambrose, Robert, and Henry Dudley remained in prison. They carved their family symbols and John's name, "IOHN DVDLI," into the walls. It was said that John became "crazed for want of air" during his time in prison.

During 1554, John's mother, Jane Dudley, and his brother-in-law, Henry Sidney, worked hard to get him and his brothers released. They befriended Spanish nobles connected to the new king, Prince Philip of Spain. In October, John and his brothers Robert and Henry were finally set free. However, John Dudley died immediately after his release. He passed away at Henry Sidney's home, Penshurst, in Kent.