Mary II
Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, joint ruler with William III.
Mary II, born in 1662 at St James’s Palace, was the eldest surviving child of James, Duke of York, and his first wife, Anne Hyde. Her uncle, King Charles II, had no legitimate children, so Mary stood second in line to the throne after her father. She and her younger sister Anne were raised as Anglicans by order of Charles II, despite both their parents converting to Roman Catholicism. Mary’s education focused on music, dance, drawing, French, and religious instruction. At fifteen, she was betrothed to her cousin, the Protestant Stadtholder William of Orange, a match initially opposed by Charles II but later approved under political pressure. Mary wept upon learning of the arranged marriage. They wed in November 1677, and she moved to the Netherlands, where her warm and lively manner made her popular. William was often away on campaigns, and Mary suffered several miscarriages, leaving her childless—a deep personal sorrow. After Charles II died in 1685, James became king, making Mary heir presumptive. James’s Catholicizing policies and the birth of a son from his second marriage triggered the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed him. In 1689, William and Mary were crowned joint sovereigns. When William was in England, Mary largely deferred to him, but during his military absences she governed alone, proving herself a capable and decisive ruler. She died of smallpox in 1694 at age thirty-two, after which William ruled alone until his death in 1702, when Mary’s sister Anne succeeded him.
- field
- Monarchy
- known_for
- Joint reign with William III; Glorious Revolution
Lore & Background
Mary was the elder of James II's daughters from his first marriage to Anne Hyde. The birth of her half-brother James Francis Edward Stuart, the only surviving son of Mary of Modena, was a contributing factor to the Glorious Revolution. That revolution deposed James II and VII and replaced him with Mary II, a Protestant. Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange, reigned jointly over all three kingdoms. Mary had been introduced to her stepmother Mary of Modena by James with the words, 'I have brought you a new play-fellow,' and unlike her sister Anne, Mary was on excellent terms with the Duchess of York, visiting her in The Hague after marrying William of Orange.
Reader's Guide
Mary II's significance lies in her role as joint sovereign during a pivotal constitutional transition. The Glorious Revolution deposed her father James II and VII, replacing him with Mary, a Protestant, and her husband William III. Mary II and William III reigned jointly over England, Scotland and Ireland. Mary's early death from smallpox at age 32 cut short her reign, but her joint rule with William set a precedent for shared sovereignty and Protestant succession. Her childlessness meant the throne passed to her sister Anne, continuing the Stuart line. Mary's legacy is intertwined with the consolidation of Protestant rule and the constitutional changes that followed the revolution.
Did You Know?
- Mary II was the elder daughter of James II and VII from his first marriage to Anne Hyde (1637–1671).
- Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange, reigned jointly over all three kingdoms after the Glorious Revolution.
- The birth of James Francis Edward Stuart, Mary of Modena's only surviving son, was a contributing factor to the Glorious Revolution.
- Mary II was introduced to her stepmother Mary of Modena by James with the words, 'I have brought you a new play-fellow.'
- Mary II visited Mary of Modena in The Hague after the younger Mary had married William of Orange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary II?
Mary II (30 April 1662 – 28 December 1694) was the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, and his first wife Anne Hyde, raised in the Anglican faith. She became Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1689, sharing the throne as co-equal sovereign with her husband William of Orange.
What was Mary II's actual role during the joint reign?
Although William III dominated military and foreign-policy decisions, Mary held full legal sovereignty and exercised real governing power in his absence. During his long campaigns on the continent, she presided over Parliament and administered day-to-day rule across the three kingdoms.
How did Mary II come to the throne?
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 deposed her father James II, and the subsequent Declaration of Right offered Mary and William the crown as joint, co-equal monarchs rather than as king and queen consort. They were crowned together in February 1689, making Mary the first woman to hold full sovereign authority in her own right in England.
How does Mary II's story end?
Mary died on 28 December 1694 at the age of 32, most likely from complications following a difficult pregnancy. Her passing left William III to rule alone for the final two years of what had been a joint reign.
Why is Mary II important to the history of the British monarchy?
Her reign, shared with William, cemented the constitutional settlement that placed Parliament above the crown and affirmed the right of subjects to petition and bear arms. Mary's example also set a lasting precedent for a woman exercising full, independent sovereign power within the English, Scottish, and Irish crowns.
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