James I (USA Kingdom)

James Maria Robert Stuart (January 18, 1735-December 14, 1800) first king of the United States of America. Born in Rome, the third son of James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) and Maria Clementina Sobieska. Brother to Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender) and Henry Benedict Stuart (Cardinal-Duke of York). Young James was despised by his older brothers as they blamed him for their mother's death. His indifferent father sent him away to live under the care of a series of Italian nobles and German princes. James, at age 13, eventually landed at the court of Frederick II of Prussia. During his time in Prussia, James converted to Lutheranism. James used the alias Robert Sobieska while in Berlin. Serving with Frederick's army during the Seven Years' War gave the future king the battle experience he would need in America. During his youth, James apparently had some contact with farmers and peasants and eventually became enamored with the idea of becoming a farmer. Following the war and his release from Frederick's army James Roberts (his latest alias), made his way to the British colony of North Carolina, sometime around 1765. He attempted to shrug off all pretentions of royalty and nobility and presented himself as a simple farmer. However, his identity became more or less an open secret. Royal authorites in the colony made no attempt to harass him, possibly at London's behest. James was quite estranged from his brothers and perhaps was not seen as a threat. This "hands off" approach was tested during the time of North Carolina's Regulator movement. Some insinuated that Roberts was an agiatator leading up to the Battle of Alamance. The future king, at this time (and later during the early days of the Revolution), exhibited no political inclinations. James married Mary Craighead, the daughter of a prominent Presbyterian minister, in 1767.