James II
/ˌdʒeɪmz ðə ˈsekənd/
/ˌdʒeɪmz ðə ˈsekənd/
- (1633-1701) the king of England and Scotland from 1685 to 1688. He was the son of Charles I and the younger brother of Charles II, becoming king after Charles II died. He faced a lot of opposition because he was a Roman Catholic, and in 1688 he was replaced by the Protestant William III. James went to Ireland in 1689 to try to win back power, but was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne. He lived the rest of his life in France.