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.
King James II when Duke of York
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684
NPG D11410
published by Isaac Beckett
mezzotint, circa 1681-1688
NPG D11822
by Leonardus Henricus van Otteren, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1684
NPG D18566
King James II when Duke of York
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1684
NPG D18698
by and published by Arnold van Westerhout, after Unknown artist
etching and line engraving, 1685
NPG D32728
published by Henri Bonnart, and published by Nicoló Billy, after Unknown artist
etching, circa 1685-1688
NPG D32729
by Samuel Moore
line engraving, circa 1685
NPG D32730
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D30783
by Pieter Schenck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7864
by Pieter Schenck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7865
by Gerard Valck, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7866
by Pieter Schenck, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D8429
by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, circa 1685
NPG D11959
by Nicolas Arnoult, after Antoine Dieu
line and stipple engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18574
by Nicolas Arnoult, after Antoine Dieu
line and stipple engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18575
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18577
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18582
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1694
NPG D18584
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1694
NPG D18583
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18587
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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