His Grace The Duke of Monmouth KG PC |
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Duke of Monmouth by Willem Wissing
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Personal details | |
Born | 9 April 1649 Rotterdam, Dutch Republic |
Died | 15 July 1685 Great Tower Hill, Tower of London, Liberties of the Tower, England |
(aged 36)
Spouse(s) | Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch |
Children |
James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine |
Parents | King Charles II, Lucy Walter |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Kingdom of England |
Service/branch | English Army |
Years of service | 1665–1685 |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars |
Second Anglo-Dutch War Third Anglo-Dutch War Franco-Dutch War Monmouth Rebellion |
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC (9 April 1649 – 15 July 1685) was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland and his mistress Lucy Walter.
He served in the Second Anglo-Dutch War and commanded English troops taking part in the Third Anglo-Dutch War before commanding the Anglo-Dutch brigade fighting in the Franco-Dutch War.
In 1685 he led the unsuccessful Monmouth Rebellion, an attempt to depose his uncle, King James II and VII. After one of his officers declared Monmouth the legitimate King in the town of Taunton in Somerset, Monmouth attempted to capitalise on his position as the son of Charles II, and his Protestantism, in opposition to James, who was a Roman Catholic. The rebellion failed, and Monmouth was beheaded for treason on 15 July 1685.
Born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to Lucy Walter, and her lover, Charles II (who was living in continental exile following his father's execution), James spent his early life in Schiedam.