British Royalty. Born James Francis Edward Stuart at St. James Palace in London, he is the only surviving son of James II, King of Great Britain and his second wife, Mary Beatrice d'Este. He was born after his parents had nine previous children, who died either at birth or shortly after, and a tenth child, who died at age four. Since his family were Roman Catholic, a rapid-spreading rumor was likely started by Protestant partisans that a living child had been smuggled into the birthing chamber in a warming pan after another royal child had been born dead. At birth he was created 1st Duke of Rothesay, styled as Earl of Chester and Prince James of Wales. He was also created 1st Duke of Cornwall. Fearing another Roman Catholic monarch, a Protestant core group invited James II's Protestant daughter by his first marriage, Mary, to take the throne, dethroning both King James II and him. Her acceptance resulted in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In victory, his sister became Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange, stadtholder and de facto ruler of the Dutch Republic. He and his mother escaped England traveling to France, where Louis XIV granted them the palace of Saint-Germain, where the prince remained for the next twenty-four years. He was raised in exile in France where he became the focus for the separatists known as the Jacobites, a movement that attempted to restore a Stuart king to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland. Upon his father's death in 1701, he declared himself king of England and was recognized as the heir by several Roman Catholic monarchs, but was attained for treason by Act of Parliament in March of 1702 in Britain and his titles were forfeited under British law. He attempted an invasion of Britain in March of 1708, but his fleet was driven off. Another attempt was made in 1715 when a large Jacobite army achieved landfall in Scotland. Following an indecisive battle at Sheriffmuir, he traveled to Scotland in December of 1715 and was disappointed by the lack of support he found, hence instead of attempting a planned coronation at Scone, he retreated back to France in February of 1716. During a treaty between England and France, he was ordered to convert to the Church of England, which he refused. Finding no support any longer in France, he accepted an offer from Pope Clement XI of the Palazzo Muti to become a residence in Rome. In September of 1719, he married Maria Sobieski and with her had two sons, Charles Edward and Henry. He presided over his Roman Jacobite court for the remainder of his life. Other coups were attempted by the Stuarts in 1719 and 1722, and his son, Charles Edward, led the last attempt to have a his lineage return to the British throne. He died at age 77 in Rome. He was also known by critics as "The Old Pretender," which referred to the rumor of him allegedly not being the King's son.

British Royalty. Born James Francis Edward Stuart at St. James Palace in London, he is the only surviving son of James II, King of Great Britain and his second wife, Mary Beatrice d'Este. He was born after his parents had nine previous children, who died either at birth or shortly after, and a tenth child, who died at age four. Since his family were Roman Catholic, a rapid-spreading rumor was likely started by Protestant partisans that a living child had been smuggled into the birthing chamber in a warming pan after another royal child had been born dead. At birth he was created 1st Duke of Rothesay, styled as Earl of Chester and Prince James of Wales. He was also created 1st Duke of Cornwall. Fearing another Roman Catholic monarch, a Protestant core group invited James II's Protestant daughter by his first marriage, Mary, to take the throne, dethroning both King James II and him. Her acceptance resulted in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In victory, his sister became Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange, stadtholder and de facto ruler of the Dutch Republic. He and his mother escaped England traveling to France, where Louis XIV granted them the palace of Saint-Germain, where the prince remained for the next twenty-four years. He was raised in exile in France where he became the focus for the separatists known as the Jacobites, a movement that attempted to restore a Stuart king to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland. Upon his father's death in 1701, he declared himself king of England and was recognized as the heir by several Roman Catholic monarchs, but was attained for treason by Act of Parliament in March of 1702 in Britain and his titles were forfeited under British law. He attempted an invasion of Britain in March of 1708, but his fleet was driven off. Another attempt was made in 1715 when a large Jacobite army achieved landfall in Scotland. Following an indecisive battle at Sheriffmuir, he traveled to Scotland in December of 1715 and was disappointed by the lack of support he found, hence instead of attempting a planned coronation at Scone, he retreated back to France in February of 1716. During a treaty between England and France, he was ordered to convert to the Church of England, which he refused. Finding no support any longer in France, he accepted an offer from Pope Clement XI of the Palazzo Muti to become a residence in Rome. In September of 1719, he married Maria Sobieski and with her had two sons, Charles Edward and Henry. He presided over his Roman Jacobite court for the remainder of his life. Other coups were attempted by the Stuarts in 1719 and 1722, and his son, Charles Edward, led the last attempt to have a his lineage return to the British throne. He died at age 77 in Rome. He was also known by critics as "The Old Pretender," which referred to the rumor of him allegedly not being the King's son.

Bio by: Linda Davis