Mary FitzRoy, Duchess of Richmond, was born in 1519 and was the daughter of Henry FitzRoy, the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. She married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in 1565, which linked her to the royal family of Scotland. As a prominent figure in the Tudor court, Mary played a significant role in the political landscape of her time. She was known for her connections to influential figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, and her marriage helped strengthen alliances between England and Scotland during a tumultuous period in history.