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Catherine Parr Facts & Worksheets

Catherine Parr was the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. She was influential in reconciling the king with his daughters and passing the Third Succession Act.

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Catherine Parr was the sixth wife of King Henry VIII. She proved to be a loyal wife and queen. Queen Catherine was instrumental in the reconciliation of the King and his daughters and the passing of the Third Succession Act. She was the first woman who published works in her name. 

See the fact file below for more information on Catherine Parr or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Catherine Parr worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

FAMILY BACKGROUND & EARLY LIFE

  • Catherine Parr was born in August 1512 at Kendal Castle in Westmorland. Her name has a variety of spelling, such as Katherine, Katheryn, Kateryn, and Katharine. 
  • She was the eldest child of Sir Thomas Parr, lord of Kendal Castle in Westmorland, and Maud Green, the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Green, lord of Green Norton Northamptonshire, and Joan Fogge. 
  • Catherine was a descendant of King Edward III through Sir Thomas Parr. Her father was particularly close to King Henry VIII, and her mother to Catherine of Aragon. She may have been named after the former queen, who was also her godmother.
  • Catherine’s father died when she was only five years old. She was sent to Northamptonshire to live with her uncle, Sir William Parr. She received a good education and became fluent in French, Latin, and Italian. She claimed that she could not tolerate sewing. 
  • Catherine Parr was only seventeen when she married the sickly Sir Edward Burgh, the first son, and heir of Sir Thomas Burgh. Her husband served as the feoffee and justice of the peace. Even though Edward Burgh constantly feared his father during his marriage to Catherine, the newlyweds lived in the Burgh household at Gainsborough Old Hall for two years. 
  • Catherine had a duty to bear an heir, but it did not happen. Catherine was far too liberal and enlightened to box herself into that duty. She was not even intimidated by her father-in-law, unlike her husband. 
  • Catherine’s mother advised her and her husband to move away from her husband’s family. They moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey, a modest residence ten miles above Gainsborough but far away from Edward’s family. Catherine immediately took control of the household. Catherine and Edward lived a fulfilled life away from the Old Hall. 
  • Edward Burgh died in April 1533, leaving Catherine homeless for a while. She could not remain at her father-in-law’s property, and they were hesitant to bring her back to the Old Hall. The elder Burgh sold two of his manors in Surrey to turn them into her dowry. The dowry ended her relationship with the Burghs as Edward and Catherine had no children.

SECOND MARRIAGE

  • Catherine married 40-year-old Sir John Neville, 3rd Baron of Latimer. Parr was the Baron’s third wife. She also became the stepmother of 13-year-old John and 8-year-old Margaret.
  • She proved to be a very affectionate wife and a good stepmother. Although, she found her relationship with her stepson challenging. 
  • They settled in Snape Castle. However, Sir John Neville was rarely at home, participating in various military joints against the Scots. Lord Latimer opposed King Henry’s decision to divorce Queen Catherine of Aragon. 
  • During the Lincolnshire Rising, most commonly called the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, the rebels pressured Latimer to be more vocal about his opposition. They kept Catherine Parr and his children inside Snape Castle for days. Latimer hurried home and was able to talk to the rebels into freeing his family. It was a very taxing experience for them. 
  • Catherine and her family decided to move to London. She visited her brother, William Parr, and sister, Ann Parr. It was here that Catherine met her future husband, Sir Thomas Seymour. 
  • By the winter of 1542, Catherine was nursing her husband’s worsening health until his death. Lord Latimer left Catherine the Stowe House and other properties. He also gave her a hefty sum to support his daughter. 
  • Catherine mourned her husband’s death. She took the opportunity to work with King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s daughter, Mary.
  • Catherine reunited with Thomas Seymour, brother of the late queen, Jane Seymour, and a former acquaintance. They reportedly began a relationship. 
  • However, King Henry VIII took notice of her and proposed. Catherine felt obliged to accept the King’s proposal to be his sixth wife instead of continuing her relationship with Sir Seymour. The latter was sent to Brussels away from the King’s court. 

THE NEW QUEEN

  • Catherine was favored to be the King’s next wife by his advisers more than by the King himself.
  • Her experience caring for her elderly husband must have been one of the factors. 
  • Catherine became a dutiful wife to King Henry. She was also instrumental in mending the King’s relationship with his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, restoring their succession line for the throne.
  • The King trusted his new wife. He appointed her Queen regent when he went on his last campaign to France. 
  • Catherine’s uncle, designated as a member of the regency council, and Thomas Cranmer and Edward Seymour helped her obtain effective control and faced no challenges during her reign.
  • Catherine’s religious views put her in a dangerous position. She sometimes pushed her religious belief when conversing with the King.
  • In 1546, her religious opponents plotted against her, persuaded the King that she was dangerous, and had her arrested. When Catherine was informed of this plot, she had the sense to throw herself at the King’s mercy and beg for forgiveness which the King accepted.
  • Catherine wrote two scriptures while reigning as the Queen of England and Ireland. The first one, Psalms or Prayers taken out of the Holy Scriptures, was printed by the King’s printer in 1544. Her second publication, Prayers or Meditations, was published in 1545 and became a bestseller. She also published Lamentation of a Sinner in late 1547. 
  • Before King Henry died, he arranged a provision for an allowance of £7,000 per year. He also instructed that Catherine must be given the same respect as if he was alive as a queen dowager. 
  • Edward succeeded the throne on January 31, 1547, and Catherine moved to her home at Old Manor in Chelsea. 

SECOND CHANCE

  • Shortly after the King’s death, Thomas Seymour, now the new King’s uncle, returned to court. He proposed to Catherine, and she quickly accepted. 
  • They were married in secret because Catherine had been widowed for only four months, and the regency would refuse to allow the queen dowager to marry so soon.
  • After some time, Sir Edward and Catherine’s secret became public knowledge which caused a scandal. 
  • Lady Mary and King Edward were very disappointed, and the former asked her sister Elizabeth not to interact with Catherine anymore. 
  • The newlyweds’ relationship with the husband’s siblings turned sour, too, that they did not allow Catherine to wear the jewels which were supposed to belong to the wife of the King. They argued that they should be the ones to wear them. 
  • Catherine and Thomas settled at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire Catherine became pregnant at the age of 35. It surprised them as she did not conceive in her first three marriages. Shortly after giving birth to a baby daughter, she contracted puerperal fever and died on September 5, 1548.

Catherine Parr Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Stirling Castle across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Catherine Parr, who was the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. She was influential in reconciling the king with his daughters and passing the Third Succession Act.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  • Catherine Parr Facts
  • The Queen’s Life 
  • The Sixth Queen
  • All in the Family
  • A Traumatic Experience
  • A Dutiful Wife
  • The Whys in the Queen’s Life
  • Four Spouses, Four Homes 
  • Four Traits
  • Love or Royalty?
  • A Royal Scandal 

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Catherine Parr after Henry VIII died?

She remarried her fourth and final husband about six months after Henry VIII died. This had to be done in secret because it was so soon after Henry’s death and not considered proper.

Which number wife was Catherine Parr of Henry VIII?

Catherine Parr was the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. She followed Catherine Howard, who Henry VIII executed under accusations of adultery and treason.

Why was Catherine Parr important to Henry VIII’s successors?

Catherine Parr played an important role in reconciling Henry VIII with his daughters Mary I, and Elizabeth I, and having them recognized as legitimate. Both would go on to rule as Queens.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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