James VIII of Scotland Escapes to France, Concluding the Jacobite Rising of 1715

Prince James Francis Edward Stuart or Stewart (June 10, 1688 - January 01, 1766) was a claimant of the thrones of Scotland and England (September 16, 1701 - January 01, 1766) who is more commonly referred to as The Old Pretender. His Jacobite supporters referred to him as James III of England and VIII of Scotland, and he was a key figure in the history of the British monarchy, although his personality was not such as to have made a great impact.

The Jacobites instigated a rebellion in Scotland aimed at restoring King James III and VIII to the throne. In 1715, James finally set foot on Scottish soil, following the indecisive Battle of Sheriffmuir, but he was disappointed by the strength of support he found. Instead of carrying through the plans for a coronation at Scone, he returned to France. He was not welcomed back, because his patron, Louis XIV, was dead and the government found him an embarrassment. The pope offered him refuge in Rome, where he lived for the rest of his life.