WILLIAM II

1., OF ORANGE (c. 1650-1702), king of England; prince of Orange; s. of W. II. of Orange and Mary, dau. of Charles I. of England; made Stadtholder after murder of De Wits, 1672; opposed Louis XIV. of France; defeated at St. Omer, 1677, at Mons, 1678; m. Mary, dau. of James II. of England. Invited to deliver England from Stewarts, 1688; landed at Torbay; after James’s flight, proclaimed king, 1689; pa ed Acts of Toleration and Indemnity, 1690; won Battle of the Boyne, 1690; victory off Cape La Hogue 1692. Under him England joined League of Augsburg; led expedition to Netherlands against French; lost Namur; defeated at Steinkirk, 1692; retook Namur, 1695; agreed to peace of Ryswick, 1697; formed Grand Alliance against France, 1701, between emperor, Ger. princes, Holland, and England.