The Glorious Revolution

  • King James II issues his second Declaration of Indulgences for England

  • Seven Bishops Petition

    Seven Bishops sign a petition against the order of King James II that his Declaration of Indulgences be read in all churches.
  • Privy Council summons the Seven Bishops to appear before

  • The Seven Bishops appear before the Privy Council and are committed to "The Tower" on a charge of seditious libel.

  • The Trial of the Seven Bishops begins

    The Trial of the Seven Bishops begins
  • King James II dismisses two judges due to not favoring them.

  • The final meeting of Court of High Commission takes place

  • William of Orange, also known as William III of England's army begins the embarkation process

  • Louis XIV invades the Rhineland, beginning the Nine Years War.

  • The Embarkation of William of Orange's army is completed.

    The States of Holland approve William of Orange's expedition. Also on this date, King James II issues a proclamation announcing to the nation that a Dutch invasion is imminent as well as canceling the planned meeting of Parliament in November.
  • William of Orange issues his first Declaration

  • The fleet takes sail.

  • King James II announes in his Privy Council that he will dissolve High Commission Court

  • Birth of Prince of Wales (known to history as the Old Pretender)

  • William III issues his second Declaration, this day is also James II's 55 birthday.

  • The first provincial rising occurs, in Cheshire

  • Princess Anne flees London on her way to defect to William III. James returns to London

  • James II is seized by fisherman near sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey; and Jeffrey is seized in London. This evening will be forever known as the Irish Night, or the Irish Fright.

  • Six of the Seven Bishops present their petition to James II.

  • The Commons request William of Orange to take over the administration of the government and to summon a convention.

  • William of Orange agrees to assume administration of government and to summon a convention.

  • The Commons resolves that James has abdicated the government and that the throne is thereby vacant.

  • The Lord's Spiritual and Temproal resolve that William of Orange and Mary be made King and Queen

  • The Convention approves the Declaration of Rights of 1689; William of Orange's wife, Mary, Princess of Orange, arrives in England.

  • On this Ash Wednesday, William and Mary are offered and accept the crown in ceremonies at the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall Palace. They are immediately proclaimed King William III and Queen Mary II.

  • William approves the first statute of his reign, the Parliament Act, 1689, transformed the Convention into the Convention Parliament.

  • William approves the second statute of his reign.

  • Coronation of William and Mary

  • William approves the Toleration Act

  • John Locke's Two Treatises on Government is licensed to be printed.

  • William III approves the English Bill of Rights of 1689, seven weeks later, William III dissolves the Convention Parliament.