Catherine+Parr

Catherine Parr was born in 1512. Her parents were Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green, she was their first child. Maud decided to name her after Catherine of Aragon, because she was one of Catherine's ladies in waiting. Catherine lived in a regal family but her life was not always that perfect. When she was only five years old her father died leaving her and her two sibling alone with their mom to take care of them. Catherine's mother was a strong independent woman, she did her best raising her children alone and got them amazing education. Growing up, Catherine had such a strong love for learning and was very intelligent! She was fluent in three languages at such a young age it seemed like there was little she could not do. During Catherine's first marriage when she was only seventeen her mother died. Two years later her first husband died as well. Soon after things started to be turning to the bright side for Catherine when she met her second husband who was much older than her; 41 when she was only 22. His name was John Nevile, but that ended up not working and she married a man named Latimer, he was a baron and had two children. Those kids were something to keep their new step-mother Catherine occupied. During the pilgrimage of Grace people had made Latimer join their rebellion even though it was against his wishes. The people took Catherine and their children to a tower and would not let them leave. Latimer helped them escape though, and he left the rebellion. He died in 1547 when Catherine was 31. It must not have taken long for Catherine to get over her dying husband because she found out who she wanted to marry next very quickly, but King Henry VIII said no, and made her marry him. Of course Catherine must not have had a problem with this at all, besides the fact that king Henry the eighth was very ugly at this point in time. Catherine never got pregnant with one of Henry's children but she was a good mother to her step-children and helped them get great educations just as her mother did for her. She loved learning throughout her whole life and when she became this desire for knowledge did not stop. She learned Spanish when she was a queen and studies literature she wrote two books, and was a patron in music and art. Soon after Henry's death Catherine married Thomas Seymour who she originally wanted to marry in the first place. They got married in secret though and eventually were caught and had to leave. Finally at the age of 36 she became pregnant with her first child. It was a girl and she named her Mary. Sadly she did not get to spend much time with her daughter because she caught puerperal fever and passed away. Catherine was a strong independent woman and as smart as they come. She is most commonly remembered as the only wife of Henry VIII to outlive him. Her grave is in the chapel at Sudeley Castle, and you can go there to this day to see it!