William and Mary

Mary was the daughter of James II., and William his nephew and son-in-law: had James been acceptable to the English people, they, as Prince and Princess of Orange, would have had but slight mention in history.

Their reign as joint monarchs of Great Britain forms a great epoch in English history, called "The Glorious Revolution of 1688."

James II. had attempted to re-establish the Roman-Catholic religion in England; but the majority of the English people being thoroughly Protestant, James lost favor, and was finally forced to abdicate, and take refuge in France.

In contracting for a marriage with Mary, William had stipulated, that, if she inherited her father's throne, he should reign as joint heir of the kingdom in title from Charles I.; otherwise he would return to Holland, and remain "Prince of Orange," this being a part of the marriage contract: when in 1688 both Houses of Parliament elected the Prince and Princess of Orange to be king and queen conjointly, it was in fulfilment of this previous promise. The administration of affairs was to be held in the hands of William, but all acts of the reign were proclaimed in the name of "William and Mary."

After they had reigned six years, Mary died of smallpox in 1694. William was then called "William III.," and ruled between seven and eight years longer, when he was killed by a fall from his horse in 1702. The Roman Catholics supported James II. in his attempt to recover the throne, while the Protestants took the part of William III.: the latter were therefore called "Orangemen." James II. was utterly defeated at the battle of the Boyne, July 12, 1690.

The day is still celebrated as "Orangemen's Day" by the Protestant Irish, and it seldom passes without a conflict between them and the Roman-Catholic Irish. Even at this late day, and in America, there have frequently been demonstrations of hostility between the two parties, which have required great coolness and firmness on the part of the municipal authorities to calm down.