Charles Stuart, Duke Of Cambridge

Charles Stuart was born on 7 November 1677 at St James's Palace as the eldest son of James, Duke of York, and Mary of Modena. He was the first of two sons and the third of seven children from the marriage of James and Mary. His younger brother was James Francis Edward Stuart, known as The Old Pretender.

At the time of his birth, Charles held the title of Duke of Cambridge, although he was never formally created with this title. He was the second surviving child of his parents; an older sister, Catherine Laura, had died the previous year, and another sister, Isabella, who was born a year before Charles, died at age four in 1681.

Charles's birthplace was St James's Palace, and his parents’ marriage was of significant political interest, given the context of the monarchy. His father, James, was the Duke of York, and at the time of Charles's birth, James's brother, Charles II of England, had no legitimate children. Queen Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II, was approaching 40 and was unlikely to have children, prompting speculation that James would succeed his brother to the throne.

Both James and Mary were Catholics, which was a point of concern for the predominantly Protestant population of England and Scotland. The prospect of a Catholic monarch succeeded by a Catholic heir was a matter of political unease at the time.

Charles Stuart died on 12 December 1677, approximately one month after his birth. His death occurred just over a month after he was born, and he was subsequently buried in Westminster Abbey on 13 December 1677.

During his brief life, Charles bore a coat of arms as a grandson of a British sovereign. The arms consisted of the royal shield differenced by a label argent of five points ermine, following heraldic tradition to distinguish junior members of the royal family.

There are no records of Charles receiving any formal titles beyond the informal mention of Dukeship, and his early death precluded any further public or political role. His ancestry traces back to the royal houses of England, Scotland, and France through his parents, James and Mary of Modena.