Mary II Biography

Mary II, eldest child of James Duke of York and Anne Hyde, is born at St James Palace.

Marries William, her cousin, the Prince of Orange

Parliament offers the Crown not to Jamess eldest son, James Francis Edward (who would have been the heir-apparent under normal circumstances), but to William and Mary as joint Sovereigns

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not punish members of either House of Parliament for anything said during debates, require excessive bail or inflict cruel or unusual punishments

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not raise a standing army during peacetime without Parliamentary consent, deny the right to bear arms to Protestant subjects or unduly interfere with Parliamentary elections.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not suspend laws passed by Parliament, levy taxes without Parliamentary consent or infringe the right to petition.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not punish members of either House of Parliament for anything said during debates, require excessive bail or inflict cruel or unusual punishments

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not raise a standing army during peacetime without Parliamentary consent, deny the right to bear arms to Protestant subjects or unduly interfere with Parliamentary elections.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not suspend laws passed by Parliament, levy taxes without Parliamentary consent or infringe the right to petition.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not punish members of either House of Parliament for anything said during debates, require excessive bail or inflict cruel or unusual punishments

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not raise a standing army during peacetime without Parliamentary consent, deny the right to bear arms to Protestant subjects or unduly interfere with Parliamentary elections.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not suspend laws passed by Parliament, levy taxes without Parliamentary consent or infringe the right to petition.

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not raise a standing army during peacetime without Parliamentary consent, deny the right to bear arms to Protestant subjects or unduly interfere with Parliamentary elections

The Bill of Rights declares that the Sovereign could not raise a standing army during peacetime without Parliamentary consent, deny the right to bear arms to Protestant subjects or unduly interfere with Parliamentary elections

Succeeds as Queen of Scots (as Mary II of Scotland)

William and Mary are offered the separate Scottish Crown (the two kingdoms were not united until the Acts of Union in 1707); they accept on 11 May

Normally, the Archbishop of Canterbury performs coronations, but the Archbishop at the time, William Sancroft, although an Anglican, refused to recognise the validity of James IIs removal. Crowned jointly with William III, Queen of England, Scotland & Ireland

The Convention of the Estates of Scotland - which was much more divided than the English Parliament - finally declares that James is no longer King of Scotland

Mary dies & her succession passes to her sister Anne

Supports the foundation of Greenwich Hospital for naval pensioners.

Dies of smallpox at Kensington Palace

Purcell wrote special anthems & Archbishop Tenison preaches the service. Attended by both Houses of Parliament