King James II
(1633-1701), Reigned 1685-88Later 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.
by Frederick Hendrik van Hove, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18589
by and published by Isaac Beckett, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, circa 1686
NPG D30781
by and published by Isaac Beckett, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, circa 1686
NPG D30784
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10651
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10649
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10650
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10652
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D11522
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D11916
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D12000
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D18743
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, (1688)
NPG D30782
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16728
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16729
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16727
by Cornelius Nicolas Schurtz, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1689
NPG D18581
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1689 or after
NPG D18585
by Nicolas Arnoult, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1689 or after
NPG D18586
by Jean Audran, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, published 1697
NPG D30800
King James II when Duke of York and Lord High Admiral
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1697
NPG D11515
Related People
- Queen Anne (daughter)
- Anne of Denmark (grandmother)
- Princess Anne (sister)
- Anne Hyde, Duchess of York (wife)
- James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick upon Tweed (son)
- King Charles I (father)
- King Charles II (brother)
- Prince Charles Edward Stuart (grandson)
- Lady Catherine Darnley (daughter)
- Princess Elizabeth (sister)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (brother)
- Isabella Stuart (daughter)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (grandfather)
- James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (nephew)
- Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (son)
- Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (daughter)
- Henrietta Maria (mother)
- Queen Mary II (daughter)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (sister)
- Mary of Modena (wife)
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