Mary II

Mary II (1662-1694), Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1689-1694), born in London. She was the daughter of James, Duke of York—who in 1685 became King of England as James II—and his first wife, Anne Hyde. Although her father was a convert to Roman Catholicism, Mary was brought up as a Protestant and was married at the age of 15 to the Dutch Protestant Prince William of Orange. In 1688, English opponents of James, unhappy with his autocratic rule and favouritism towards Roman Catholics, initiated the Glorious Revolution, forcing James into exile and giving the throne to Mary and William (who became king as William III). They were crowned as joint rulers in April 1689. Mary governed as regent while William was campaigning in Ireland (1690-1691) and on the Continent (1692-1694), but for the most part she simply carried out policies formulated by her husband. William continued to rule alone after her death in Kensington Palace from smallpox. William and Mary had no children, and William was succeeded by Mary's sister as Queen Anne.