Who succeeded King James II?

Answer 1

George II outlived his eldest son, Frederick Prince of Wales. Therefore upon his death he was succeeded by his grandson, George III, eldest son of Frederick Prince of Wales and his wife, the unpopular Augusta of Sax-Gotha.

Answer 2

James II Stuart, (born 14 October 1633) succeeded to the title 'King of Great Britain' on 6 February 1685, and crowned 'King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith' on 23 April 1685. However, as a Catholic Monarch in Anglican England, James' position was somewhat incongruous and uncomfortable.

There was much opposition to the fact that he was appointing Catholics to key posts, and his position became extremely tenuous. Consequently he abdicated from being King of Great Britain on 11 December 1688, and fled the country.

In due course the British Parliament offered the role of sovereignty to James' eldest surviving daughter, Mary, a protestant, and she officially succeeded to the title Queen Mary II of Great Britain on 13 February 1689, and was crowned 'Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith' on 11 April 1689.

She was already married to the Dutch protestant, 'Prince William of Orange' (The Netherlands), her first cousin. William's mother was Mary Henrietta Stuart, the daughter of King Charles I (Stuart) of England, so Parliament was happy to appoint William as joint sovereign of Great Britain with his wife.

So, by blood (by line of descent), King James II was succeeded by his daughter, Mary, (who became Queen Mary II), and by the simultaneous appointment of her husband, William, as 'King William III of Great Britain', the joint sovereignty being known as the reign of 'William and Mary'.

And thus the congruity of a protestant monarchy over a protestant country was restored.

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Answer 3

William IV of the United Kingdom was the successor of George IV of the United Kingdom.