King James II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 until 1688. He was born on October 14, 1633, and was the last Catholic monarch to rule over England. His reign was marked by conflicts with Parliament and growing tensions due to his attempts to promote religious tolerance for Catholics, which alarmed many Protestant subjects. In 1688, James II faced a challenge to his rule when William of Orange, a Protestant, invaded England. This event, known as the Glorious Revolution, led to James's abdication and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William and his wife, Mary II. James II fled to France, where he lived in exile until his death in 1701.