Charles Stuart (British Army officer, born 1753)

Sir Charles Stuart

KB
Sir Charles Stuart; KB
	Lieutenant Colonel Charles Stuart by George Romney
Born	January 1753; Kenwood House, London, England
Died	25 May 1801; Richmond Park, Surrey, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1768–1801
Rank	Lieutenant-general
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War; French Revolutionary Wars Siege of Calvi; Capture of Minorca; ;

Mary Wortley Montagu, he was born in Kenwood House, London.^[1] There is a famous painting in the Tate Gallery, London, of him aged 10 stealing eggs and chicks from a bird's nest.^[2]

Military career

Early career

Stuart embarked upon a military career in 1768, when he enlisted as an

26th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded until 1779.^[1]

On a visit home to England, he married Anne Louisa Bertie, daughter of

Sir Henry Clinton

, with whom he corresponded regularly. His two sons were born after his return from America:

Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay (2 January 1779–6 November 1845)
Captain John James Stuart (29 August 1782–19 March 1811), died aboard his command, the frigate
Charles Stuart (1810–1892) was British Army general and MP.^[3]^[4]

He had several notable brothers and sisters, including

Earl Macartney; and Lady Caroline Stuart (b. 1763–1813), who married The Hon. John Dawson, later first Earl of Portarlington.^[5]

He was promoted to

Baron Cardiff. Stuart continued an MP for the remainder of his life, except the years 1794–1796, but showed little interest in politics.^[1] In 1792, on the death of his father, he inherited the estate of Highcliffe House in Hampshire

.

With the opening of hostilities against France by the

26th Regiment of Foot, which he held for the remainder of his life.^[6]

Defence of Portugal

He took command of a force sent to Portugal in January 1797 to defend Lisbon, and was notably successful in instilling discipline and spirit into the force, which was partly foreign in composition.^[1]

Capture of Menorca

In 1798, he was sent to attack

Colonel Blayney to Palermo, from whence they were dispatched to secure Messina against French invasion.^[1]

Death and memorials

In April 1800 he resigned as governor of Menorca and returned to England. He was then offered the post of Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, but died at his home in Richmond Park on 25 March 1801 before he could accept. He was buried in the family vault at St Peter's Church, Petersham. There are monuments to Stuart in Westminster Abbey, this by Joseph Nollekens,^[1] and in St Peter's Church.^[7]

An able general and administrator, Stuart's quarrelsome disposition and tendency toward insubordination blighted an otherwise promising military career.^[1]

References

^
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26697. Retrieved 17 September 2006. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

^ "Three Sons of John, 3rd Earl of Bute". Tate Gallery. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
^ Lundy, Darryl. "Captain John James Stuart". ThePeerage.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
^ Lundy, Darryl. "General Charles Stuart". ThePeerage.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
^ Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant.
^ ^a ^b "Land Forces of the British Empire". Retrieved 17 September 2006.
^ See photo: memorial to Sir Charles Stuart

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Lord Mount Stuart Henry Luttrell	Member of Parliament for Bossiney 1776–1790 With: Henry Luttrell 1776–1784 Bamber Gascoyne 1784–1786 Matthew Montagu 1786–1790	Succeeded by James Archibald Stuart Humphrey Minchin
Preceded by William Morton Pitt Michael Angelo Taylor	Member of Parliament for Poole 1790 With: Benjamin Lester	Succeeded by Benjamin Lester Michael Angelo Taylor
Preceded by Alexander Edmondstone	Member of Parliament for Ayr Burghs 1790–1794	Succeeded by John Campbell
Preceded by Benjamin Lester Michael Angelo Taylor	John Jeffery	Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain	Member of Parliament for John Jeffery	Succeeded by John Jeffery George Garland
Political offices
New title	Governor of Menorca 1798–1800	Succeeded by Henry Edward Fox
Military offices
Preceded by Sir Alured Clarke	Colonel of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot 1794–1795	Succeeded by Thomas Trigge
Preceded by Sir William Erskine	Colonel of the 26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot 1795–1801	Succeeded by Andrew Gordon

[odnb-1] 
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26697. Retrieved 17 September 2006. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

[2] "Three Sons of John, 3rd Earl of Bute". Tate Gallery. Retrieved 20 March 2017.

[3] Lundy, Darryl. "Captain John James Stuart". ThePeerage.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.

[4] Lundy, Darryl. "General Charles Stuart". ThePeerage.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.

[5] Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant.

[regiments-6] "Land Forces of the British Empire". Retrieved 17 September 2006.

[7] See photo: memorial to Sir Charles Stuart

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