• Section Contents
  • British Copper Coinage: Introduction
  • British Silver Coinage: Introduction

    British Rulers

    British rulers during the American colonial period:

      James IMarch 24, 1603 - March 27, 1625
      Charles IMarch 27, 1625 - January 30, 1649
      Commonwealth February 14, 1649 - May 24, 1660
      Charles II May 29, 1660 - February 6, 1685
      James II February 6, 1685 - December 11, 1688
      William and Mary February 13, 1689 - December 27, 1694
      William III December 28, 1694 - March 8, 1702
      Anne March 8, 1702 - August 1, 1714
      George I August 1, 1714 - June 11, 1727
      George II June 11, 1727 - October 25, 1760
      George III October 25, 1760 - January 29, 1820
    Brief historical notes:

    Following several months of civil war King Charles I of England was captured, put on trial and on January 30, 1649 he was beheaded for his crimes.

    Under the Commonwealth or Protectorate there was no monarchy. Britain was ruled by a Parliament under the leadership of the Puritan military commander Oliver Cromwell, as the Lord Protector.

    On March 16, 1660 after several months of civil war in England the Commonwealth Parliament was dissolved, soon thereafter the Commonwealth ended and Charles II was restored as King of England.

    On November 5, 1688 William of Orange landed in England to assert his claim to the throne. On the 11th of December the Catholic King James II fled to France and on January 28, 1689 he was declared to have abdicated the throne. The Protestants William III and Mary were declared King and Queen of England. After Mary died of smallpox William ruled alone.

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