Anne Hyde

Anne Hyde
Duchess of York and Albany
Portrait by Lely, c. 1665. "Anne's teasing playing of her hair is deliberately suggestive of a royal consort's prime role—breeding—but also a reminder of her great wit."[1]
Born	12 March 1637 Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died	31 March 1671(1671-03-31) (aged 34) St James's Palace, Westminster, Middlesex, England
Burial	5 April 1671 Westminster Abbey
Spouse	James, Duke of York and Albany (later James VII and II) ​ ​ (m. 1660)​
Issue more...	Charles, Duke of Cambridge Mary II, Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland James, Duke of Cambridge Anne, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland Charles, Duke of Kendal Edgar, Duke of Cambridge
Father	Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Mother	Frances Aylesbury
Religion	Roman Catholic prev. Anglican
Signature

Anne Hyde (12 March 1637 – 31 March 1671)^[2][a] was the first wife of James, Duke of York, who later became King James II and VII.

Anne was the daughter of a member of the English gentry—Edward Hyde (later created Earl of Clarendon)—and met her future husband when they were both living in exile in the Netherlands. She married James in 1660 and two months later gave birth to the couple's first child, who had been conceived out of wedlock. Some observers disapproved of the marriage, but James's brother, King Charles II of England, wanted the marriage to take place. Another cause of disapproval was the public affection James showed toward Anne. They had eight children, of whom six died in early childhood;^[3] the two who reached adulthood were future monarchs, Mary II and Anne. James was a known philanderer who kept many mistresses, for which Anne often reproached him, and he fathered many illegitimate children.

Originally an Anglican, Anne converted to Catholicism soon after her marriage to James. She had been exposed to Catholicism during visits to the Netherlands and France and was strongly attracted thereto. Partly due to Anne's influence, James also converted to Catholicism, which ultimately led to the Glorious Revolution. She developed advanced breast cancer and died shortly after giving birth to her eighth child.

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