King Henry VIII
By Aidan Harmon
Who was he?
He was the King of England. He was born in London, England, June 28, 1491. He died in London, England, January 28, 1547, at 55 years old.
What did he do?
While king he had six wives and beheaded two of them. He had seventy thousand people executed during his reign. He also bankrupted the national treasury while he was in power. He was morbidly obese and had a rotting, pus filled wound on his thigh.
How did he die?
During a hunting trip a wound on his leg became infected and spread to the rest of his body, eventually killing him.
How was his infection treated?
His doctors used mixtures of lead, silver, and pulverized coral to try and heal his leg. He also drank ground pearls and sawdust mixed with water.
How would his infection have been treated today?
Doctors use antibiotics to combat infections nowadays.
What happened to his wives?
Henry divorced his first wife, Catherine, and married his second wife, Anne, later that year. He had Anne executed three years later. Henry then married Jane and stayed with her until she died during childbirth. He then married a second Anne and later divorced her. After that he married Kathryn Howard, but had her executed. Finally, Henry married his sixth wife, a third Katherine, and died while married to her.