James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth

His Grace The Duke of Monmouth KG PC
Portrait by Peter Lely, c. 1680
Born	(1649-04-09)9 April 1649 Rotterdam, Dutch Republic
Died	15 July 1685(1685-07-15) (aged 36) Great Tower Hill, Tower of London, Liberties of the Tower, England
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch ​ ​ (m. 1663)​
Issue	9, including: James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine James Crofts Henrietta Paulet, Duchess of Bolton
Parents	Charles II of England Lucy Walter
Military career
Allegiance	Kingdom of England
Service/branch	English Army
Years of service	1665–1685
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Second Anglo-Dutch War Third Anglo-Dutch War Franco-Dutch War Monmouth Rebellion

James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC (9 April 1649 – 15 July 1685) was a Dutch-born English nobleman and military officer. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II of England with his mistress Lucy Walter.

The Duke of Monmouth served in the Second Anglo-Dutch War and commanded English troops taking part in the Third Anglo-Dutch War before commanding the Anglo-Dutch brigade fighting in the Franco-Dutch War. He led the unsuccessful Monmouth Rebellion in 1685, an attempt to depose his uncle King James II and VII. After one of his officers declared Monmouth the legitimate king in the town of Taunton in Somerset, Monmouth attempted to capitalise on his Protestantism and his position as the son of Charles II, in opposition to James, who had become a Roman Catholic. The rebellion failed, and Monmouth was beheaded for treason on 15 July 1685.