John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (1502?-1553), Lord Protector of Edward VI

Sitter associated with 5 portraits
Received the title Earl of Warwick in 1546, and the following year, on Henry VIII's death, became a member of the council set up to govern the country during Edward VI's childhood. He made himself Duke of Northumberland in 1551. When it became clear in 1553 that the fifteen year-old Edward was going to die of tuberculosis, Northumberland caused his son, Guildford Dudley, to marry Lady Jane Grey and persuaded the king to will the crown to Jane, excluding Henry's daughters from the succession. Four days after Edward's death Northumberland proclaimed Jane queen. Two weeks later, however, he was forced to surrender to Mary Tudor's forces and was executed for treason.