June 15, 1519 — Henry Fitzroy, the only acknowledged bastard of Henry VIII, born

The son of Henry VIII and Elizabeth Blount, his mistress (and a lady-in-waiting of his wife), Henry FitzRoy is the only child of the king to be born out of wedlock. It seems fairly clear that he was acknowledged by his father as it may have seemed to Henry, even then, that he might have no other male issue. Throughout his youth, the king kept him nearby, and made sure he was looked after and educated, just in case it became necessary to make FitzRoy his heir someday.

Henry FitzRoy died in July of 1536, with his father still on the throne. His half-brother Edward, Henry’s eventual heir, was born in October that year.