1542

Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century

Decades: 1490s 1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s - 1540s - 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s 1590s

Years: 1537 1538 1539 1540 1541 - 1542 - 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547

Events

• February 13 - Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, is executed for adultery.
• War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French.
• November 25 - Battle of Solway Moss[?]. An English army invades Scotland and defeats a Scottish army.
• December 14 - Princess Mary Stuart becomes Queen Mary I of Scotland.
• The first contact of Japan with the West when a Portuguese ship, blown off its course to China, landed in Japan.

Births

• December 7/December 8 - Princes Mary Stuart, later Queen Mary I of Scotland.

Deaths

• February 13 - Catherine Howard, Fifth Queen consort of Henry VIII of England
• May 21 - Hernando de Soto, explorer
• December 14 - King James V of Scotland.