Biography of Jane Dormer

Jane Dormer, 6 January 1538–13 January 1612, was an English lady-in-waiting to Mary I and the Duchess of Feria.
Jane was born during the reign of Henry VIII in Buckinghamshire to Sir William Dormer and his first wife, Mary Sidney, at a time when the Reformation was sweeping the country. She was torn between the old religion and the new, as Jane’s father stayed staunchly Catholic while her mother’s family embraced Protestantism. She spent some of her childhood in the home of her maternal grandparents and was said to have been a playmate of the young Edward VI. The Protestant influence of her mother’s family ended with her mother’s death in 1542, and Jane went to live with her paternal grandmother and became a devoted Catholic.

Despite the 20 years in age between them, Jane was to become a loyal ally and the closest friend and confidante of Queen Mary I.

It is believed that Jane entered Mary’s household in 1548, and at just 16 she came to court with Mary as a lady-in-waiting. She was soon known as a beauty, and Mary was loathe to see her married out of fear of losing her. Edward Courtenay, the 1st Earl of Devon, was said to have shown great interest in Jane, but Queen Mary did not think him worthy enough for her favourite.

When Queen Mary I died in 1558, Jane married Don Gomez Suarez de Figueroa of Cordova, Duke of Feria, a Spanish nobleman and close friend and confidante of Prince Phillip II. Jane and Don Gomez had first met on King Philip’s arrival in England in 1554; Mary had strongly encouraged the match, but it had been postponed to await Philip’s return to the country after campaigns abroad, but that never happened. Jane was by her beloved mistress’ side when she died.
When the Duke of Feria was replaced as ambassador to England in 1559, he and Jane returned to Spain together with a small retinue. Despite their very differing beliefs, Jane and Queen Elizabeth were friendly, and Jane kept up a correspondence with Elizabeth from Spain.

In her husband’s country, Jane became a beacon for exiled English, extending a helping hand and support to those who had fallen on hard times. Her marriage to Feria produced two sons: Lorenzo, who would succeed his father, and Pedro, who died at just a few months old.
When the Duke died in 1571, she undertook the running of his estates; she was greatly respected by the Spanish for her political understanding. Her health declining; in 1611, she was bedridden. Knowing her time was near, she had a coffin prepared and brought to the house. She died on January 13, 1612, attended by seven priests, and was buried at the monastery of Santa Clara in Zafra.

Portrait by Antonis Mor believed to be Jane Dormer

Sources:
The Life of Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria, Henry Clifford
Jane Dormer, Dictionary of National Biography., Vol. 15, Alsager Richard Vian, p. 245–247