On This Day
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Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and former Lord Protector is freed from the Tower of London

Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine.

Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his third wife, Jane Seymour, Edward was the first English monarch to be raised as a Protestant. During his reign, the realm was governed by a regency council because Edward never reached maturity. The council was first led by his uncle Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (1547–1549), and then by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (1550–1553).

Edward's reign was marked by many economic problems and social unrest that in 1549 erupted into riot and rebellion.

Historical Significance

Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553.

Events Before

  1. The city of Salvador da Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded

    Salvador], formerly known as Cidade do São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, literally "City of the Holy Savior of the Bay of All the Saints") is a Brazilian municipality and capital city of the…

  2. Book of Common Prayer is adopted by the Church of England

    The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is the title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism.

  3. Tomé de Sousa appointed as the 1st Governor-General of Brazil

    Tomé de Sousa (1503–1579) was the first governor-general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549 until 1553. He was a nobleman and soldier born in Rates, Póvoa de Varzim.

  4. Kett's uprising occupies Norwich, England

    Kett's Rebellion was a revolt in the English county of Norfolk during the reign of Edward VI, largely in response to the enclosure of land.

  5. Jews are expelled from Ghent, Belgium

    Jews are expelled from Ghent, Belgium

Events After

  1. William I, Prince of Orange (18) weds Dutch noble and heiress Countess Anna van Egmont (18), until her death in 1558

    William I, Prince of Orange (18) weds Dutch noble and heiress Countess Anna van Egmont (18), until her death in 1558

  2. English premier John Dudley appointed Duke of Northumberland

    English premier John Dudley appointed Duke of Northumberland

  3. San Marcos University in Lima, Peru, opens (oldest continuously operating university in the Americas)

    San Marcos University in Lima, Peru, opens (oldest continuously operating university in the Americas)

  4. Treaty of Karlsburg: Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austria recognized as King of Hungary and Transylvania

    Treaty of Karlsburg: Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austria recognized as King of Hungary and Transylvania

  5. Ottoman fleet under Dragut captures Tripoli from the Knights of Malta after a six-day bombardment

    The siege of Tripoli was a successful Ottoman siege of the North African city of Tripoli, then held by the Knights Hospitaller, in August 1551.

More from the 1550s

Bayinnaung is crowned King of Burma, assembles the largest empire in Southeast Asian history

Bayinnaung is crowned King of Burma, assembles the largest empire in Southeast Asian history

Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey in London

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England.

Shaanxi Earthquake, the deadliest ever recorded, kills 830,000 in Shaanxi Province, China

The 1976 Tangshan earthquake was a Mw 7.6 earthquake that hit the region around Tangshan, Hebei, China, at 19:42:55 UTC on 27 July (03:42:55, 28 July local time).

City of São Paulo founded in Brazil

São Paulo is the capital city of the state of São Paulo, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 2, 1550?
Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his third wife, Jane Seymour, Edward was the first English monarch to be raised as a Protestant.
Why is Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and former Lord Protector is freed from the ... significant?
Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553.

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February 2 in HistoryYear 1550