Catherine Parr

Born around July 1512, Catherine Parr became Henry VIII's sixth wife on 12 July 1543, when she was already twice-widowed. She forged close bonds with his children — Mary, Elizabeth, Edward — tutoring the younger two herself and persuading Henry to restore his daughters to the line of succession in 1543. From July to September 1544 he named her regent while he campaigned in France, though he left her no role in his will. Her Protestant leanings nearly cost her: in spring 1546 a warrant for her arrest was drawn up by Catholic officials hoping to destroy her, but she and Henry reconciled. She pub…