Search results
Mary II (30 April 1662 – 28 December 1694) was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, co-reigning with her husband, King William III and II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. She was also Princess of Orange following her marriage on 4 November 1677.
Jun 20, 2024 · Mary II, queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1689–94) and wife of King William III. As the daughter of King James II, she made it possible for her Dutch husband, the stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, to become coruler of England with her after he overthrew James’s government.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sep 12, 2022 · Mary II of England (r. 1689-1694) ruled jointly with her husband William III of England (r. 1689-1702) until her death from smallpox. While William suffered a xenophobic reaction to his rule, Mary represented the continuity of the Royal House of Stuart and was much more popular with the people than her Dutch husband.
- Mark Cartwright
- Queen Mary II of England was known for ruling jointly with her husband William III of England after the Glorious Revolution, which peacefully repla...
- William and Mary ruled together because Mary was the daughter and heir to the previous monarch James II while her husband William of Orange had led...
- As she had no children, Mary II of England was succeeded by her younger sister Anne (when Mary's husband William III died in 1702).
Mary II © The daughter of James II, Mary and her husband William of Orange became co-rulers of England after the 'Glorious Revolution'. Mary was born on 30 April 1662, the eldest daughter of ...
- She was an avid learner. As a young girl, Mary learned the languages of English, Dutch and French and was described by her tutor as ‘an absolute mistress’ of the French language.
- She married her first cousin, William of Orange. Mary was the daughter of James, Duke of York, son of Charles I. William of Orange was the only son of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary, Princess Royal, daughter of King Charles I. The future King and Queen William and Mary were, therefore, first cousins.
- She wept when she was told William would be her husband. Although King Charles II was keen on the marriage, Mary was not. Her sister, Anne, called William ‘Caliban’ as his physical appearance (blackened teeth, a hooked nose and short stature) resembled the monster in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
- Her father became king but was overthrown by her husband. Charles II died in 1685 and Mary’s father became King James II. However, in a country that had become largely Protestant, James’ religious policies were unpopular.
William III and Mary II were England’s first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power. William and Mary came to the throne after the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 when Mary’s father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England.
Mary II (April 30, 1662 – December 28, 1694) reigned as Queen of England and Ireland from February 13, 1689, and as Queen of Scots (as Mary II of Scotland) from April 11, 1689 until her death.
