Correspondence of Charles Stuart, Baron Stuart de Rothesay

The material in the collection includes: a pedigree showing the descent of Charles Stuart from David I, King of Scotland, and William the Conqueror; letter on public health matters; letter to Comte Langles relating to the behaviour of his staff; letter to the French Ministry of the Interior asking for intervention in the case of Lady C. Parnell, and letters to the Interior Ministry on other matters; letter relating to letter of credence; letter relating to a survey of Ireland; letter relating to discussions on W. African territories; letters to Duc de Richelieu, Prime Minister of France; and, domestic letters.

Charles Stuart was born on 2 January 1779, and was the son of General Sir Charles Stuart (1753-1801). The younger Stuart entered the Diplomatic Service and became Joint Charge d'Affaires in Madrid in 1808. In 1810, as an envoy to Portugal, he was created Count of Machico and Marquis of Angra, and Knight Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword (Portuguese Order: Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada). On 20 September 1812 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath and a Privy Councillor. Stuart was a Minister at The Hague, 1815-1816, and also Ambassador to Paris from 1815 to 1830. During this period, on 22 January 1828, he was created Baron Stuart de Rothesay of the Isle of Bute. He was appointed as Ambassador to St. Petersburg in 1841 until 1845. He married Elizabeth Margaret, the third daughter of the 3rd Earl of Hardwicke. One of his daughters, Charlotte, married Charles John, Earl of Canning, and the other, Louisa, married Henry, 3rd Marquis of Waterford. Sir Charles Stuart, Baron Stuart de Rothesay, died on 6 November 1845.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes shows another reference to Sir Charles Stuart related material in the Laing Collection (check the Indexes for more details): letters to G. J. Thorkelin, 1799-1800, at La.III.379/785-786. The collection also includes many letters to Sir Charles Stuart, in Dc.6.25, and letters from E. C. Disbrowe, 1816-1818, at Dk.8.4/3. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Stuart related material.