James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1649-1685), Son of Charles II and Lucy Walter

Sitter associated with 43 portraits
The eldest of Charles II's fourteen illegitimate children, Monmouth was the son of Lucy Walter. He was acknowledged by Charles as his son, but not made his heir. He was created Duke of Monmouth in 1663. He fought in the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch wars and gained a considerable reputation as one of Britain's finest soldiers. On his father's death in 1685 he led the 'Monmouth Rebellion', an attempt to take the throne from his uncle King James II. He landed in England with a small Protestant army and issued a declaration in which he accused James II of poisoning the late king, usurping the throne, and ruling against the law. His forces were defeated and he was tried and executed.