Queen Elizabeth I

                Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII, and his second wife Anne Boleyn. She came to the throne only after much turmoil, on 17th November 1558. Elizabeth was dedicated to her country in a way few monarchs had been, or have been since. She had the mind of a political genius, and nurtured her country through careful leadership and by choosing capable men to assist her. In appearance she was extravagant, in behaviour sometimes flippant and frivolous, but her approach to politics was serious, conservative, and cautious. When she ascended the throne, England was an impoverished country torn apart by religious squabbles. When she died at Richmond Palace on the 24th March 1603, England was one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world.