Guilford Dudley (
1536-
1554) was a son of
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and the younger brother of
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The unusual first name derives from his mother's family name. His father was Lord Protector of the kingdom during the reign of King
Edward VI of England. On Edward's death, Northumberland feared the accession of his sister, the
Catholic Mary, and already had a scheme in place to replace her with a
Protestant,
Lady Jane Grey. In order to ensure that he would still be in control, he married her off to his son Guilford on
May 15,
1553. The moment Edward died, Jane was proclaimed queen, and officially ruled for nine (or thirteen) days, with Guilford as her consort. However, Mary's adherents prevailed; Jane and Guilford were imprisoned, and Guilford, his father and his wife were all executed on
Tower Hill[?].