Stuart, James Francis Edward

Stuart, James Francis Edward (1688-1766), Prince of England, b. St. James's Palace, London.

Prince James Francis Edward, son of James II and his second wife, Mary of Modena, was born on 10 June, 1688.

There was no rejoicing at the news of his birth. Indeed, a rumour was spread that he was not James's son but had been smuggled into the palace in a warming-pan.

James II had been king for three years and he had made himself unpopular. His new son would be a Catholic, like James, and people did not like the idea of another Catholic king.

Before he was six months old, the new prince had been taken to France by his mother and was soon followed by James II.

William of Orange and Mary became rulers of Britain in his place. In 1701, James II died and Prince James claimed the throne of Britain. This has led to his being called the 'Old Pretender'.

In the years that followed, he kept making plans to secure the throne, raising armies and fleets with the help of the King of France. But he only returned to Britain once. That was in 1715.

His supporters in England and Scotland had risen in rebellion and James landed at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. But the rebels were defeated and six weeks later he left.

He spent his later life in Rome and died there.