Catherine Parr

Catherine Parr (1512-1548), sixth and last queen consort of King Henry VIII of England. The daughter of Sir Thomas Parr, controller of the king's household, Catherine was twice widowed before marrying Henry in 1543. She acted as regent for him while he campaigned in France (1544) and was influential in restoring his daughters, the future queens Mary I and Elizabeth I, to his favor; she helped educate both of them. A Protestant sympathizer, Catherine protected from persecution those who dissented from Catholic doctrine. After Henry's death and the accession of Edward VI, she married the new king's uncle, Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley.