James II

James II (1633-1701), King of England, b. St. James's Palace, London.

James II was the second son of Charles I. He succeeded his brother, Charles II in 1685.

James was a Roman Catholic and there were rebellions against him. Like Charles I, he tried to rule without Parliament and he was deposed from the throne in 1688.

His wife fled to France with her baby son, James Francis Edward Stuart. James himself was caught by some fishermen but the new king, William of Orange, allowed him to escape.

In 1689 James led an army to Ireland, but he was defeated by William in the Battle of the Boyne (1690). Afterwards he settled at St. Germain in France.

See John Caoolow King in Exile