James VI and I was a monarch of England.
James VI and I ( 19 June 1566 -- 27 March 1625 ) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death . In 1603 , he succeeded the last Tudor monarch of England and Ireland , Elizabeth I , who died without issue . After the Union of the Crowns , he based himself in England ( the largest of the three realms ) from 1603 , only returning to Scotland once in 1617 , and styled himself `` King of Great Britain and Ireland '' . James VI and I ( James Stuart ) ( 19 June 1566 -- 27 March 1625 ) , King of Scots , King of England , and King of Ireland , faced many difficulties with Parliament during his reign in England .