Rulers of Scotland and England

James I 1603--1625 United the thrones of Scotland and England. The 1605 Gunpowder Plot attempted to blow up King and Government but failed. In 1620 the Pilgrims sailed for America in the Mayfower to escape religious intolerance. In 1611 James authorised the translation of the King James Bible. He also had Sir Walter Raleigh executed

Charles I
1625--1649 Had trouble with Parliament that led to civil war. His troops were defeated by Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army in 1645. A tribunal voted 68 - 67 to have him executed.

Interregnum
1649--1660

Charles II
1660--1685 The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London took place during his reign. His most famous mistress was Nell Gwynne

James II
1685--1689 Brother of Charles II. Committed large scale religious persecution. William of Orange was invited by Parliament to seize the throne. James fled the country and died in France in 1701.

William III and Mary II
1689--1702 William of Orange married Mary, daughter of James II. First monarch declared King by Parliament, no longer devinely ordained. Huanted by Jacobite plots to restore James to throne.

Anne
1702--1714 Sister of Mary II. All of her 17 children died. 1707 Act of Union beween Scotland and England formed Great Britain. Last Stuart sovereign.

George I
1714--1727 First Hanoverian King. Succeeded only because Parliament passed the Act of Succession in 1701, vesting the throne to the first Prodestant relatives of the Stuarts.

George II
1727--1760 In 1745 Jacobites tried to restore the Stuarts to the throne through Bonnie Prince Charlie.

George III
1760--1820 Napoleonic Wars took place 1793 - 1815.

George IV
1820--1830

William IV
1830--1837 Brother of George IV. 1833 slavery abolished in British colonies.

Victoria
1837--1901 Niece of William IV. Devoted to her husband, Prince Albert, she went into mourning for 25 years after his death in 1861. During her reign the British Empire doubled in size.

Edward VII
1901--1910 Known as Edward the Peacemaker.

George V
1910--1936 First World War 1914 - 1918. Sinn Fein Easter Rising in 1916 led to independant Parliament in Ireland in 1918.

Edward VIII
1936--1936 Abdicted to marry twice divorced Mrs Wallis Simpson.

George VI
1936--1952 The example the King and Queen (Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a direct descendant of the kings of Scotland) set during World War 2, 1939 - 1945, greatly endeared them to the public.

Elizabeth II
1952--present New title, Head of the Commonwealth.

Back to Brits Abroad home Page
Go to The Tropics Geocities