James II Biography and Timeline

Birth of James II

Birth of James II, son of Charles I & Henrietta Maria

Role range: 1685-1688

Peerage

Created the Duke of York

Role range: 1685-1688

Battle of Boyne

James only fought a delaying action and chose instead to place his line of defence on the River Boyne, around 30 miles from Dublin. James II is forced to flee to Dublin, his hopes of restoration ended. Fought between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thrones - the Catholic King James and the Protestant King William, who had deposed James in 1688

Role range: 1688-1690 – 1685-1688

Marriage

Signs a contract of marriage with Anne Hyde, their offspring the are 1st English heirs

Role range: 1685-1688

Marriage

James II Marries Anne Hyde, daughter of Edward Hyde

Role range: 1685-1688

Lord High Admiral

Appointed Lord High Admiral in charge of the Navy

Role range: 1685-1688

Battle of Four Days Battle

The English lose 6,000 men killed, 8 ships sunk & 9 ships captured. The English are defeated by the Dutch & French

Role range: 1665-1667 – 1685-1688

Death of James II

James wife Anne the Duchess of York dies

Role range: 1672-1674

Battle of Sole Bay

The English are saved by reinforcements. The Duke of York is twice forced to abandon his flagship. De Ruyter forces the French to withdraw

Role range: 1672-1674 – 1685-1688

Battle of Sole Bay

Suffers humiliating losses to de Ruyter, loses 2 flagships the Prince & St Michael

Role range: 1672-1674 – 1685-1688

Sinking of Royal James - Fireship Attack

At Solebay a Dutch fireship set the English first-rate Royal James ablaze, killing Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, and many of her crew.

Role range: 1672-1674 – 1685-1688

Sinking of Royal James

Suffers humiliating losses to de Ruyter, loses 2 flagships the Prince & St Michael

Role range: 1672-1674 – 1685-1688

Marriage

Marries Mary of Medina, a Catholic, 15 yr old called "daughter of the Pope"

Role range: 1685-1688

Marriage

Londoners form a hostile reception, the Lord Mayor declines to welcome her

Role range: 1685-1688

Legislation

The Test Act requires Crown office holders to support the Anglican Church. The intention of the Test Act is to exclude Catholics from public office. James II is forced to surrender his public office as Admiral, as he will not take the oath

Role range: 1685-1688

Legislation

The Test Act requires Crown office holders to support the Anglican Church

Reform of Church Governance

The Test Act requires Crown office holders to support the Anglican Church

Role range: 1685-1688

Resignation of James II

Refuses to take communion in the Church of England in accordance to the Test Acts

Role range: 1685-1688

Plot

A fabricated Popish plot causes anti-catholic reprisals on the streets of London

Role range: 1685-1688 – 1685-1688

Legislation

A 2nd Test Act is passed requiring all members of the Houses of Commons & Lords to swear an oath

Role range: 1685-1688

Succession

Assured by the Mayor of London that if the King dies he will succeed

Role range: 1685-1688

Parliament

Parliament dissolves before the 1st Act of Succession is passed

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Royal Succession

1st of 3 Exclusion Bills from the Country Party to exclude James from the succession

Role range: 1685-1688

Exile of James II

Forced into exile after the Popish Plot, awy from England for 2 years

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Parliament

The 2nd of 3 Exclususion Bills by the Country Party exclude James from succession. The 2nd Exclusion Bill is rejected by the Lords

Role range: 1685-1688

Parliament

Exclusion Bill, 3rd of 3 bills introduced in the Oxford Parliament to exclude James

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Parliament

Exclusion Bill, 3rd of 3 bills introduced in the Oxford Parliament to exclude James

Role range: 1685-1688

Succession

Succeeds as King of England & Ireland, 2nd son of Charles I

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Parliament

Fails to persuade Parliament to repeal the 1673 Test Act

Role range: 1685-1688

Coronation

Crowned alongside Mary of Modena, using Anglican rights in Westminster Abbey

Role range: 1685-1688

Loyal Parliament

When James inherited the English throne in 1685, he had much support in the Loyal Parliament, which was composed mostly of Tories

Role range: 1685-1688

Declaration of Indulgence

James decided to obtain from the English courts of the common law a ruling which affirmed his power to dispense with Acts of Parliament, he dismisses judges who disagreed with him on this matter as well as the Solicitor General Heneage Finch

Role range: 1685-1688

Declaration of Indulgence

Issues the Declaration of Indulgence, grants toleration to Catholics & non-conformists. By allying himself with the Catholics, Dissenters, and nonconformists, James hoped to build a coalition that would advance Catholic emancipation. Abandoning the Tories, James looked to form a King's party as a counterweight to the Anglican Tories, so in 1687 James supported the policy of religious toleration and issued the Declaration of Indulgence

Role range: 1685-1688

Legislation

Fails to persuade Parliament to repeal the 1673 Test Act

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Parliament

Fails to persuade Parliament to repeal the 1673 Test Act

Role range: 1685-1688

Reform of Royal Succession

Requests Anglican clergy read the 2nd Declaration of Indulgence to their congregations

Role range: 1685-1688

Glorious Revolution

James II fathers a son, James Francis Edward Stuart, until then the throne would have passed to his daughter Mary, a Protestant, the wife of William, the prospect of a Roman Catholic dynasty in the kingdoms is now likely.

Role range: 1688-1690 – 1685-1688

Glorious Revolution

James II was troubled by James II's Catholicism and his close ties with France, key leaders of the Tories unite with members of the opposition Whigs and set out to resolve the crisis by inviting William of Orange to England.

Role range: 1688-1690 – 1685-1688

Interregnum

James attempted to flee but was detained at Faversham and returned to London.

Role range: 1688-1689 – 1685-1688

Arrest of James II

Detained by magistrates at Faversham while attempting to reach France

Role range: 1685-1688