Why did William III of England succeed Mary II of England?
Continuation of the joint monarchy after Mary II's death, as the 1689 settlement provided. Husband and first cousin — joint monarch with Mary since 1689.
The short answer
Mary II died of smallpox on 28 December 1694. The Bill of Rights had vested the crown in William and Mary jointly, with William to continue alone if he outlived her, so nothing changed in law: he simply reigned by himself until his own death in 1702.
Who they were
Key points
- Joint monarchy since 13 February 1689
- Mary II died 28 December 1694
- William reigned alone until 8 March 1702; Anne, Mary's sister, followed
Related family connections
Sources
- Mary II of EnglandDeath in 1694
- William III of EnglandSole reign 1694–1702
Explanation written and reviewed by HistorIQly · reviewed 2026-09-18. Part of the House of Stuart family tree. Background on Wikipedia.
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