James I of England, born James VI of Scotland in 1566, was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. His childhood was marked by political turmoil. His mother was forced to abdicate the Scottish throne in his favor when he was just a baby, leading to his upbringing by regents in the tumultuous political landscape of Scotland. James' Protestant education was in stark contrast to his mother's Catholic faith, and this religious upbringing would have significant consequences for both Scotland and England.

Ascending to the English throne in 1603 upon Elizabeth I's death, James sought to unify Scotland and England, coining the term "Great Britain". His reign was marked by a genuine desire for peace, which was manifested in the ending of the long-standing war with Spain through the Treaty of London in 1604.

However, James' reign was not without its challenges. The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, wherein a group of Catholic extremists attempted to blow up Parliament and kill the king, was one of the most significant events of his reign. This plot, though foiled, heightened tensions between Catholics and Protestants in the country.

James' relationship with Parliament was fraught with difficulties. His belief in the divine right of kings, which proposed that monarchs derived authority directly from God, put him at odds with a Parliament that sought more power and influence. This would sow the seeds for future conflicts between the monarchy and Parliament in the years to come.

Foreign relations, aside from the peace with Spain, were characterized by James' efforts to secure his dynasty through the marriages of his children. He sought alliances with old enemies and potential threats, such as Spain, through these marital arrangements.

One of James' lasting legacies was his commissioning of the King James Bible in 1611, an English translation of the scriptures that remains one of the most widely read versions of the Bible to this day. It not only had religious significance but also cultural, influencing the English language and literature profoundly.

James married Anne of Denmark in 1589, with whom he had three children who survived infancy: Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, who died young; Elizabeth, who would become the ill-fated "Winter Queen" of Bohemia; and Charles, who would later become Charles I of England. James' relationship with his wife was initially close, but they drifted apart over time, particularly after the death of their eldest son.

By the end of his reign, James faced numerous challenges, including health problems and political unrest. He passed away in 1625. His death was met with mixed reactions. While many recognized his contributions to peace and the arts, particularly through the King James Bible, others were critical of his extravagant spending and his contentious relationship with Parliament.

Culturally, James I's reign is often considered a golden age for literature. It was the era of William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and other legendary figures of English literature. The exploration of the New World continued, and the foundations for the future British Empire were laid. Society was in flux, with old medieval traditions clashing with the beginnings of modern thought, particularly in the realms of science and philosophy.