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King James II

(1633-1701), Reigned 1685-88

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 134 portraits
James II became king in 1685 as his brother Charles II left no legitimate heir. Before inheriting the throne, James took an active role in politics. He championed English commercial interests, becoming governor of the Royal Fisheries Company and the Royal Africa Company which had a monopoly over the trade in enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. A convert to Roman Catholicism ruling a largely Protestant population, he advocated greater tolerance towards Catholics in his Declaration of Indulgence of 1687. When the Archbishop of Canterbury and six bishops requested he reconsider, they were arrested. In 1688, a group of Protestant nobles asked William, Prince of Orange to come to England with an army. James fled to France, where he lived in exile for the rest of his life, while William of Orange and his wife Mary, James's Protestant daughter, reigned in Britain.

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King James II, by Robert Sheppard, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19079

King James II

by Robert Sheppard, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D19079

Three Eldest Children of Charles I, by Sir Robert Strange, after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D32118

Three Eldest Children of Charles I

by Sir Robert Strange, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1750s-1780s (1635)
NPG D32118

Three Eldest Children of Charles I, by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D9088

Three Eldest Children of Charles I

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, mid 18th century (1635)
NPG D9088

Five Children of King Charles I, by Richard Cooper, after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D32119

Five Children of King Charles I

by Richard Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1762 (1637)
NPG D32119

The family of King Charles I, after Samuel Woodforde - NPG D26374

The family of King Charles I

after Samuel Woodforde
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D26374

King James II, by John Goldar, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D16731

King James II

by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 25 August 1787 (1688)
NPG D16731

King James II, by John Goldar, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D16730

King James II

by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 25 August 1787 (1688)
NPG D16730

King James II, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Sir Peter Lely, published by  E. & S. Harding - NPG D29309

King James II

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely, published by E. & S. Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D29309

King James II, published by William Richardson, after  Matthäus Merian the Elder - NPG D26423

King James II

published by William Richardson, after Matthäus Merian the Elder
line engraving, published 1800
NPG D26423

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D26426

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D26426

King James II, by Robert Cooper, published by  Charles Baldwyn, published by  Henry Baldwyn, after  Simon Luttichuys - NPG D29310

King James II

by Robert Cooper, published by Charles Baldwyn, published by Henry Baldwyn, after Simon Luttichuys
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D29310

King James II, after Matthäus Merian the Elder - NPG D18562

King James II

after Matthäus Merian the Elder
line engraving, published 1800 (late 1630s)
NPG D18562

King James II, by John Chapman, published by  John Wilkes - NPG D10647

King James II

by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1 July 1804
NPG D10647

King James II, by John Chapman, published by  John Wilkes - NPG D10648

King James II

by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1 July 1804
NPG D10648

King James II, by Edward A. Smith, after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D26424

King James II

by Edward A. Smith, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1822
NPG D26424

King James II, by Henry Bone, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D17191

King James II

by Henry Bone, after Sir Peter Lely
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, April 1831
NPG D17191

Three Eldest Children of Charles I, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D32117

Three Eldest Children of Charles I

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
photogravure, late 19th or early 20th century (1635)
NPG D32117

The Stuart Dynasty, after Francis Poyntz - NPG D32077

The Stuart Dynasty

after Francis Poyntz
albumen print, circa 1887 (1670s)
NPG D32077

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