A Parting Gift: James's ring

We end Week 1 by looking at this gold and enamel finger ring inset with the monogram “JR” for Jacobus Rex - King James and a crown.

Who owned it? How did they acquire it?

James VII and II gave this ring to Sir Peter Halkett the night he fled from London in 1688.

Sir Peter was a member of a royalist family who had been loyal to the Stuarts at the time of the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

He became a Member of Parliament for Dunfermline, Fife and also Provost of that town. Sir Peter supported the Union of the Scottish and English parliaments in 1707.

• Look at the inscription on this ring: “JR”.

• What do you think this monogram means? Think about the origin of the name ‘Jacobite’ from Jacobus for James.

Where is it now?

This object is now in the collections of National Museums Scotland.

Take the quiz in the next step to test your knowledge from Week 1.