James VII and II

James VII and II, born on 14 October 1633 O.S., was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, reigning from 6 February 1685 until his deposition on 23 December 1688. He ascended to the throne following the death of his elder brother, Charles II. His rule was marked by conflicts over religious tolerance and the principles of absolutism and the divine right of kings. He was the last Catholic monarch to rule over these kingdoms. His reign saw a crisis of succession with the birth of his son, which led to the Glorious Revolution and his eventual exile in France.

James’s reign included significant political events, such as the refusal of the English and Scottish parliaments to pass his measures for religious tolerance, his attempt to impose them by decree, and the prosecution of the Seven Bishops. These actions, along with the birth of his son and the support for his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William III, culminated in his ousting and the invitation to William of Orange to take the throne. James died in exile at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, on 16 September 1701.