James was the son of Joan Beaufort and King James I of Scotland, who was murdered when young James was only 6 years old. James was crowned King of Scotland in 1437 at Holyrood Abbey. While James was too young to rule Scotland unaided the country was governed by the Earls who quarreled amongst themselves. Chief amongst them were the Douglases who assisted James in finally taking full control as king. But the Douglases were rebellious and in 1452 James personally killed the 8th Earl of Douglas at Stirling before confiscating the 9th Earl's lands. James was accidentally killed when a cannon exploded at the siege of Roxburgh Castle in August of 1460.

 James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
    +Mary (of Guelders) (b.1433 - d.1463)
        = James (III, King of Scotland 1460-1488) (b.1452? - d.1488)
        |   +Margaret (of Denmark) (b.1456 - d.1486)
        |       = James (IV King of Scotland 1488-1513) (b.1473 - d.1513)
        |           +Tudor, Margaret (Queen of Scotland) (b.1489 - d.1541)
        |               = James (V, King of Scotland 1513-1542) (b.1512 - d.1542)
        = Stewart, Alexander (Duke of Albany) (b.1454? - d.1485)