James II
Americannoun
noun
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1430–60, king of Scotland (1437–60), son of James I
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1633–1701, king of England, Ireland, and, as James VII, of Scotland (1685–88); son of Charles I. His pro-Catholic sympathies and arbitrary rule caused the Whigs and Tories to unite in inviting his eldest surviving daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, to take the throne as joint monarchs. James was defeated at the Boyne (1690) when he attempted to regain the throne
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
James II was replaced by a historical anomaly—the joint monarchy of his daughter Mary Stuart and his Dutch son-in-law, William of Orange.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
On Tuesday, Trump posted an article from the U.K. tabloid Daily Mail which claimed the president was distantly related to Charles via James II of Scotland, who died in 1460.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
Therefore, when Parliament deposed James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and replaced him with King William and Queen Mary, the new monarchs were obliged to agree to the Act of Settlement.
From Slate ● Feb. 26, 2025
William, a Protestant, had become King of England, Scotland and Ireland the previous year, after Catholic James II was deposed, and his victory secured his position.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2023
James II had succeeded his brother in 1685 and, after a cautious start to his reign, by 1687 he was starting to throw his weight around.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
