Encyclopedia > Charles FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Southampton
Charles Fitzroy (or Palmer) (1662 - September 9, 1730) was the eldest son of Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine and Charles II. As the putative son of Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine, his nominal father, he became Lord Limerick at birth. His birth marked the separation of his parents; Roger Palmer, a Catholic, had him christened into the Catholic faith, but six days later the King had him rechristened into the Church of England.
In 1670, at the age of eight, Charles was betrothed to Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Wood, Clerk of the Green Cloth, but with the proviso that the marriage be delayed until Mary turned 16. Following the death of her father, Barbara Villiers more or less abducted Mary, with the intention of bringing her up with her own children.
CHARLES II, King of Great Britain and Ireland, second son of Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria, was born on the 29th of May 1630 at St James's Palace, and was brought up under the care successively of the Countess of Dorset, William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, and the Marquess of Hertford.
On the 1st of May he signed the first draft of a treaty at Breda with the latter, in which he accepted the Solemn League and Covenant, conceded the control of public and church affairs to the parliament and the kirk, and undertook to establish Presbyterianism in the three kingdoms.
The reign of his predecessor Charles and even of that of his successor James II, with their mistaken principles and ideals, have a saving dignity wholly wanting in that of Charles II, and the administration of Cromwell, in spite of the popularity of the restoration, was soon regretted.
Having paid over 6000 to the state, Southampton was allowed to live unmolested in England during the Commonwealth period, and on the restoration of Charles II.
Her son, CharlesFitzroy (1662-1730), was created duke of Southampton in 1675, this title becoming extinct when his son William died in May 1774.
The barony of Southampton was created in 1780 in favour of CharlesFitzroy (1737-1797), a grandson of CharlesFitzroy, 2nd duke of Grafton, he being thus, like the holders of the dukedom of Southampton, descended from Charles II.
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