Henry VIII was born in 1491 in Greenwich, England to King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He became king in 1509 after the death of his older brother Arthur. Henry married Catherine of Aragon in 1509 and had one son, Henry, who died after two months. Henry sought to emulate his predecessors through war with France. He ruled England while traveling and left Cardinal Thomas Wolsey to govern in his absence. Henry had six wives and three children who became monarchs: Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI. He died in 1547 at Whitehall Palace from health problems including obesity, gout, and possibly syphilis.