Charles Stuart, Duke Of Cambridge

Charles Stuart was born on 22 October 1660 in London. He was the first of four sons and eight children of James, Duke of York, and Anne Hyde. His father later became King James II of England and VII of Scotland. Upon his birth, Charles was styled as the Duke of Cambridge, a title he held in honor but was never officially created, as he died before reaching his first birthday.

His parents' marriage was held on 3 September 1660 at St. James's Palace in London. Charles was conceived approximately seven months prior to their marriage, which historically was considered unusual for the period and prompted discussions among royal advisors and his paternal grandmother, Queen Henrietta Maria, about his legitimacy. However, King Charles II, James's older brother, approved of the marriage, effectively legitimizing Charles Stuart's birth.

Charles was baptized on 1 January 1661 at Worcester House. Although his father, James, was the heir presumptive to the throne at the time, it was unlikely that Charles would inherit the crown, as King Charles II was still capable of producing legitimate heirs. Nonetheless, James later became King James VII & II.

Charles's life was extremely brief. He contracted smallpox and died on 5 May 1661, just over six months after his birth. His death occurred before his first birthday. He was buried in Westminster Abbey the following day. His early death was the first among the many children of James II who died young. His siblings included three brothers—James, Edgar, and another Charles—who were also given the title Duke of Cambridge at some point in their lives, though they too died young. Two of his sisters, Mary II and Anne, survived to become Queens of England and later of Great Britain.

During his short life, Charles bore a coat of arms as a grandson of a British sovereign. The arms displayed the symbols of the kingdom, differentiated by a label argent with five points ermine, a heraldic device indicating his status as a royal grandchild.

There are no records of any public roles or titles held by Charles beyond his status as a royal infant. His brief life is primarily documented within the context of his familial relationships and the circumstances surrounding his birth and death.

References for this biography include John Callow’s "The Making of King James II" (2000) and Kenneth J. Panton’s "Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy" (2011).