Mary II of England

Born 30 April 1662, Mary was the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, and Anne Hyde. Raised Anglican by order of her uncle Charles II despite her parents' conversion to Catholicism, she stood second in line to a throne that seemed distant. At fifteen she married her cousin William of Orange, a Protestant match that would prove consequential. When Charles died in 1685 her father became James II, making her heir presumptive - until his attempts at rule by decree and the birth of a Catholic son triggered the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The English Bill of Rights followed, and Mary became queen regnant alongside William in 1689. She deferred to him when he was present but governed alone during his military campaigns abroad, proving herself a powerful and effective ruler. Smallpox killed her on 28 December 1694 at thirty-two, leaving William to reign alone until her sister Anne inherited in 1702.