One of England's strongest and least popular monarchs was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. - He was born at Greenwich on June 28, 1491. The first ruler to be educated under the influence of the Renaissance, he was a gifted scholar, linguist, composer, and musician.- He was gay and handsome, skilled in all manner of athletic games as a youth, but in later life he became fat.- In 1502, when his …showed first 75 words of 686 total…

…showed last 75 words of 686 total…England and Wales was completed during Henry's reign in 1536.- Ireland was made a kingdom, and he became king of Ireland.- His indecisive wars with France and Scotland remained that way in spite of some shallow victories. Although he himself opposed the Reformation, the real beginning of the English Reformation was marked by his creation of a national church.- He died on January 28, 1547, and was buried in St.-George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.