Henry Seymour

Sir Henry Seymour (c. 1503 – 5 April 1578) of Marwell, Hampshire, was an English landowner and MP, the brother of Jane Seymour, queen consort of Henry VIII, and consequently uncle to Edward VI. He was created a Knight of the Bath at his nephew's coronation in 1547.

Family

Born around 1503, probably at Wulfhall, Wiltshire, he was the third son of Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth. His family rose to prominence following his sister Jane's marriage to the King in 1536. As well as Queen Jane, Henry Seymour's siblings included Elizabeth Seymour, Lady Cromwell, the daughter-in-law of Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell; Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, who was Lord Protector of England during the minority of their nephew; and Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, the fourth husband of Catherine Parr, and stepfather to the future Elizabeth I.

Career

Seymour may have begun his career in the service of Richard Foxe, Bishop of Winchester. By 1526 he had followed his father and siblings into royal service, although he does not seem to have shared the ambitions or abilities of his brothers, Edward and Thomas, and did not progress at court. He served under four Tudor monarchs, although for the most part, he lived in relative obscurity and did not seek honours and preferments.

He held a number of offices, including:

Keeper, Taunton Castle, Somerset by 1526–1578

Keeper, Bridgwater Castle, Somerset 1544

Keeper, Marwell park, Hampshire by 1547–51

Sewer extraordinary, the chamber by 1533