King William III (William of Orange) & Queen Mary II Photos

Ruled England 13 February 1689 - 28 December 1694 (Mary died) then William was sole ruler until 8 March 1702. William III and Mary II assumed the English throne after James II fled to France. Mary was the daughter of James II and heiress presumptive until a healthy son was born to her father. William III, Prince of Orange, was born and raised in the Netherlands, a staunch Protestant and the first cousin of Mary II. After James II vacated the throne, Parliament offered the throne to the Protestant William and Mary jointly. During her short reign, Mary II played little part in public affairs except when her husband had lengthy absences due to conflicts in Europe. Early in his reign, at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, William III decisively defeated James II's attempt to take back the throne. Before and during his reign, William III participated in several wars against the powerful, Catholic French King, Louis XIV, who supported James II attempts to regain the throne of England. William and Mary did not have children.

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King William III painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller at Bishop's Palace. Waterford, Ireland.	Portrait of King William III at Castletown House. Ireland.	Landing of William of Orange at Torbay (1688) medal by Regnier Arondeaux of Netherlands at Hunterian Art Gallery. Glasgow, Scotland.	Frederick Herman de Schomberg (General sent by King William III to Ireland to defeat rebellion of deposed James II which was done at battle of Boyne in 1690) graphic (1689) by John Smith after painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller at National Portrait Gallery. London, United Kingdom.

Battle of the Boyne (July 1, 1690) painting (1693) by Jan Wyck where armies of King William III fought those of King James II at National Gallery of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland.	Mural of King William III at Sandy Row where he addressed Protestant forces before marching south to win battle of the Boyne. Belfast, Northern Ireland.	Clear glass Lismullen posset bowl which belonged to King William III who left it with John Dillon of Lismullen after Battle of the Boyne at National Museum Decorative Arts & History. Dublin, Ireland.	Williamite drinking glass (1700s) to toast King William III at Ulster Museum. Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Tin-glazed earthenware charger showing King William III (c1700) probably from Lambeth, England at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.	Tin-glazed earthenware charger painted with equestrian portrait of King William III (WR) (c1690) made in Bristol or Lambeth at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.	Slip decorated dish prob. showing Princes Mary holding tulip between side portraits of husband William of Orange & father James II (1665-80) by Ralph Toft of North Straffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.	King William III & Queen Mary II painted earthenware plate (c1689-95) at National Portrait Gallery. London, United Kingdom.

Tin-glazed earthenware hexagonal plate painted with portrait of King William III & Queen Mary (WMR) (c1690) made in Lambeth, London at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.	Tin-glazed earthenware charger painted with portrait of King William III & Queen Mary (WMR) (c1690) made in England or Holland at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.	Tin-glazed earthenware octagonal plate with William III & Queen Mary II (c1690) from Southwark, London at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.	Carved armchair (1689) with image of Queen Mary II in crypt at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.

William III & Queen Mary II silver gilt salvers (c1689) by George Garthorne of London at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.


See Also:	Rulers of England & Great Britain