Act of Settlement Parliament passed the Act of Settlement to prohibit Catholics from sitting on the throne and placing the succession with the House of Hanover. See the Source Old Pretender Becomes King James II died and Louis XIV recognized his son as James III (the “Old Pretender”) as rightful king of England and Scotland (September), prompting Parliament to legislate for an oath requiring a public abjuration of the Stuarts’ claim to the throne. See the Source William Penn Granted Land Charter William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of Pennsylvania and Territories granted a land charter in the establishment of Delaware. See the Source