Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay

Lord Stuart de Rothesay painted in Paris by George Hayter, 1830.

Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay GCB, PC (2 January 1779–6 November 1845), known as Sir Charles Stuart between 1812 and 1828, was a British diplomat. He was twice Ambassador to France and also served as Ambassador to Russia between 1841 and 1844.

Background and education

Stuart was the son of Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles Crichton-Stuart, younger son of Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. His mother was Louisa, daughter of Lord Vere Bertie, younger son of Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

Diplomatic career

Stuart joined the Diplomatic Service in 1801 and served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal and Brazil between 1810 and 1814. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Bath (KB) in 1812 and sworn of the Privy Council in 1814. In 1815 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) and appointed British Ambassador to France. He remained in Paris until 1824 and was also briefly Ambassador to Holland between February and May 1815. From 1825 to 1826 he was once more Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal and Brazil. He was created Count of Machico in 1825 by John VI of Portugal and Marquess of Angra in Brazil in 1826 by Maria II of Portugal, and was a Knight of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword. In 1825 the Portuguese King John VI named Stuart his plenipotentiary with powers to negotiate and sign with Brazil a Treaty on the recognition of that country's independence. Invested with those powers, Stuart signed the treaty recognizing Brazilian independence on 29 August 1825, and on 15 November of the same year the Portuguese King ratified the treaty. In January 1828 he was once again appointed Ambassador to France and was raised to the peerage Baron Stuart de Rothesay, of the Isle of Bute, at the same time. He continued as Ambassador to France until 1831. In 1841 he was made Ambassador to Russia, a post he held until 1844.

Family

Stuart's wife Elizabeth, Lady Stuart de Rothesay, and daughters Charlotte (later Countess Canning) and Louisa (later Marchioness of Waterford), painted in Paris by George Hayter, 1830.

Lord Stuart de Rothesay married Lady Elizabeth Margaret, daughter of Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, on 6 February 1816. They had two daughters:

• Hon. Charlotte Stuart (1817–1861), wife of Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning.
• Hon. Louisa Anne Stuart (1818–1891), wife of Henry Beresford, 3rd Marquess of Waterford.

Between 1831 and 1835 Lord Stuart de Rothesay constructed Highcliffe Castle at Highcliffe, Dorset. The estate had previously been sold by his father. Lord Stuart de Rothesay died in November 1845, aged 66, when the barony became extinct. Lady Stuart de Rothesay remained a widow until her death in June 1867.

References

• Oliver & Boyd's New Edinburgh Almanack for the year

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Hon. John Villiers	Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal and Brazil 1810–1814	Succeeded by Thomas Sydenham
Preceded by The Duke of Wellington	British Ambassador to France 1815–1824	Succeeded by The Viscount Granville
Preceded by The Viscount Granville	British Ambassador to France 1828–1830	Succeeded by The Viscount Granville
Preceded by The Marquess of Clanricarde	British Ambassador to Russia 1841–1844	Succeeded by Hon. John Bloomfield
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baron Stuart de Rothesay 1828–1845	Extinct