James VII and II

James VII and II (1633 - 1701) succeeded his brother Charles II as king of Scotland and England in 1685. Under Charles he was an active Lord High Admiral of England until legislation prevented him, as a Roman Catholic, from holding office. The English legislation did not prevent him holding office in Scotland, and he appeared there as the king's Commissioner. His policies as king led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, as a result of which he fled the country and was declared to have abandoned the throne. He tried to make a comeback through Ireland, a strongly Catholic country, but was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne.