King of England. Son of Ethelred the Unready. Born between 1003 and 1005 at Islip, near Oxford. He is regarded as the last king of the house of Wessex. Little is known of his early life, except that in 1016 he went to Brittany in voluntary exile for the next 25 years. He was recalled to England in 1041 and took the throne the following year. Died at the palace of Westminster and buried in Westminster Abbey which he had founded. Canonised in 1161 and given the soubriquet 'Confessor' because of his extreme piety.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
