This ten-year old boy, son of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, became King of England and Ireland in 1547 and died of tuberculosis six years later. Who was he?

The young monarch who ascended to the thrones of England and Ireland in 1547 was Edward VI, the only legitimate son of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Born in 1537, Edward was merely ten years old when he became king, making his reign a period largely governed by regency councils. His uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, initially served as Lord Protector (Review), followed later by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.

Edward's short time on the throne was marked by significant religious reforms that further solidified the English Reformation. Under his Protestant rule, the Church of England moved further away from Roman Catholicism, with the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer and the repeal of many Catholic practices. These changes were often met with resistance, contributing to a volatile religious landscape in England.

Tragically, Edward VI's reign was cut short by illness. He died in 1553, at the age of 15, from what is believed to have been tuberculosis. His death created a succession crisis, as he attempted to alter the line of succession to prevent his Catholic half-sister Mary from inheriting the crown, ultimately leading to a brief and unsuccessful attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne before Mary I took power.