A History of the Early Part of the Reign of James the Second; with an Introductory Chapter. By the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. To Which is Added an Appendix.

An fascinating historical work by Charles James Fox, charting the the beginning of James II's reign over Britain. First edition. Fox was engaged in writting this history for may years, however, he died before it was completed. It was published incomplete due to the reputation of the author. With an engraving of Fox by Evans to frontispiece after a drawing by Howard from the last bust by Nollekens in the possession of Lord Holland. Charles James Fox PC (1749 - 1806), styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger. James II & VII (1633 - 1701) ruled England and Ireland as James II and Scotland as James VII, from 1685. He was the last Roman Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Members of Britain's political and religious elite increasingly opposed him for being pro-French and pro-Catholic, and for his designs on becoming an absolute monarch. When he produced a Catholic heir, the tension exploded, and leading nobles called on William III of Orange (his son-in-law and nephew) to land an invasion army from the Netherlands, which he did. James fled England (and thus was held to have abdicated) in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He was replaced by William of Orange who became King as William III, ruling jointly with his wife (James's daughter) Mary II. Thus William and Mary, both Protestants, became joint rulers in 1689. James made one serious attempt to recover his crowns, when he landed in Ireland in 1689 but, after the defeat of the Jacobite forces by the Williamite forces at the Battle of the Boyne in the summer of 1690, James returned to France. He lived out the rest of his life as a pretender at a court sponsored by his cousin and ally, King Louis XIV. Rebacked, with original calf board preserved with minor repairs. Externally, generally smart just with slight wear to extremities and marks to boards. Evidence of worming to joints and hinges only. With evidence of previous bookplate to front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright, with slight scattered foxing, and slight tidemarks to first few pages. Ink inscriptions to half title. Very Good.…