John Seymour (1474–1536) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir John Seymour Knight banneret
Portrait of John Seymour
Born	John Seymour c. 1474
Died	21 December 1536(1536-12-21) (aged 61–62)
Resting place	Church of St Mary, Great Bedwyn
Occupation	English courtier
Known for	Father of Jane Seymour, queen consort of Henry VIII of England
Spouse(s)	Margery Wentworth ​ (m. 1494)​
Children	John Seymour Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset Sir Henry Seymour Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley John Seymour Anthony Seymour Jane, Queen of England Margery Seymour Elizabeth Seymour, Lady Cromwell Dorothy Seymour
Parent(s)	John Seymour Elizabeth Darrell

Sir John Seymour (born around 1474 – died December 21, 1536) was an English soldier and a courtier. He worked for two kings, Henry VII and Henry VIII. He came from an important family.

Sir John Seymour is most famous for being the father of Jane Seymour. Jane became the third wife of King Henry VIII. This also made Sir John the grandfather of King Edward VI.

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Who Was Sir John Seymour?

Sir John Seymour was born around 1474. He was the oldest son of John Seymour and Elizabeth Darell. His family lived at a place called Wulfhall in Wiltshire, England.

The Seymour family had a long history. They were descendants of a family from France. Over time, they gained important lands and became well-known.

Sir John's Family and Marriage

Sir John Seymour married Margery Wentworth in 1494. Margery was known for her beauty and gentle nature. Her family also had connections to important English families, including King Edward III.

Sir John and Margery had ten children together. Six of them lived to adulthood. These included three sons: Edward, Henry, and Thomas. They also had three daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, and Dorothy.

Wolfhall Farm, what's left of Wulfhall

Sir John Seymour's Career

Sir John Seymour took over his father's lands in 1492. He became a knight in 1497. This honor was given to him by King Henry VII. It was for his help against rebels in Cornwall.

In 1513, he was made a Knight banneret. This was another special title for a knight. He was also present at important events. These included battles and meetings between King Henry VIII and the French King Francis I. One famous meeting was called the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520.

Important Jobs Sir John Held

Sir John Seymour held many important positions during his life. These jobs showed his loyalty and skill. Some of his roles included:

• Warden of Savernake Forest
• Sheriff for Wiltshire and Somerset
• Justice of the peace in Wiltshire
• Knight of the body for the King
• Constable of Bristol Castle
• Groom of the Bedchamber

Sir John's Children and Their Importance

Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth had many children. Four of them became very important at the royal court. These were Edward, Thomas, Jane, and Elizabeth.

This is a brass memorial for John Seymour, Sir John's eldest son, who died young.

Jane Seymour, Queen of England

Jane Seymour was the most famous of Sir John's children. She worked as a lady-in-waiting for Henry VIII's first two wives. King Henry VIII visited Wulfhall in 1535. Soon after, he fell in love with Jane.

Jane became Queen of England on May 30, 1536. When Jane became queen, her family's status grew greatly. This was normal for the family of a queen.

Edward Seymour, Lord Protector

Jane's oldest brother, Edward, became very powerful. He was made an earl and then a duke. He even ruled England for a short time. This was when his nephew, King Edward VI, was too young to rule.

Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral

Jane's other brother, Thomas, also gained high status. He was made a baron and Lord High Admiral. In 1547, he married Catherine Parr. She was the widow of King Henry VIII. Both Edward and Thomas faced serious challenges and were executed years apart.

Elizabeth Seymour

Sir John's daughter, Elizabeth, also had an interesting life. She married three times. Her second husband was Gregory Cromwell. He was the son of Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell.

Sir John Seymour's Death and Burial

Sir John Seymour passed away on December 21, 1536. His daughter, Queen Jane, did not attend his funeral. This was a royal custom at the time.

He was first buried in a church called Easton Priory. But that building later fell apart. So, in 1590, his grandson, Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, moved his body. Sir John was reburied in St Mary's Church, Great Bedwyn. This church was near his home at Wulfhall.

Sir John's Memorial

A tablet above Sir John Seymour's memorial.

In Great Bedwyn church, you can see his monument. It's a large stone tomb with his statue on top. The statue shows him in armor, with his hands together in prayer. There's also a tablet on the wall above. It tells about his life and family. It lists his children and their spouses. It also explains how his body was moved to this church.

Images for kids

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  Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset

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  Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley

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  Jane Seymour, Queen of England, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger

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  Portrait of a Lady, possibly Elizabeth Seymour, by Hans Holbein the Younger

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  St Mary’s Church, Great Bedwyn

Arms

The Seymour family coat of arms.

The Seymour family coat of arms shows two golden wings joined together on a red background.