Charles Stuart de Rothesay Papers, ca. 1548-1911 (bulk 1768-1846)

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Stuart de Rothesay, Charles Stuart, Baron, 1779-1845
Abstract:
Stuart de Rothesay, Charles Stuart, Baron (1779-1845) was a British diplomat and peer. The collection consists primarily of correspondence related to his diplomatic career.
Extent:
25 boxes (12.5 lf.) 1 oversize box.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists primarily of the correspondence of Charles Stuart de Rothesay, the majority of which documents his diplomatic engagements. Many of the original letters and period copies are from notable historical figures such as Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington; Lord Castlereagh; Lord Clancarty; Quentin Craufurd; le Comte Decazes; John Donzelot, the Governor of Corfu; Duc de Richelieu; Charles R. Vaughn, as well as many other political figures, emissaries, and dignitaries. Also included, to a lesser extent, are financial records, printed materials, and various miscellanies, which include Syrian and Arabic materials, Greek and Egyptian materials which discuss the Trilingual Stone and the Rosetta Stone, a map, parchment decrees.

Biographical / historical:

Stuart, Charles, Baron de Rothesay (1779-1845), diplomat, was born on 2 January 1779, the elder son of Sir Charles Stuart (1753-1801) and his wife Anne Louisa (1757-1841). Stuart was educated at Eton College (1753-1801), Christ Church, Oxford (1797-8), and the University of Glasgow (1798-9). After a brief stint in the bar, he entered the diplomatic service in 1801. Appointments as secretary of legation at Vienna (1801-4) and secretary of embassy at Petersburg (1804-8) were followed by a liaison and intelligence gathering assignment with the provincial juntas in French occupied Spain (1808-10). As minister in Lisbon (1810-14) he made himself indispensable to Wellington, and he was made a member of the Portuguese regency council. During the 'hundred days' (1815), he was the ambassador at the courts of both the King of Netherlands and Louis XVIII of France, who was in exile in Ghent. His greatest diplomatic achievement was the treaty by which Brazil became independent of Portugal, negotiated on a joint Anglo-Portuguese special mission in 1825. He was reappointed as ambassador to France in 1828, and was created Baron Stuart de Rothesay of the Isle of Bute on 22 January that year. His subsequent assignments took him to Russia (under Sir Robert Peel's government). But by this time he was a sick man and a stroke left him unable to conduct business. Although he tried to conceal his condition, his resignation was forced in March 1844. He died at Highcliffe on 6 November 1845 and was buried there. He was survived by his wife, Lady Elizabeth Margaret (1769-1867) and his two daughters, Charlotte (1817-1861), later lady Canning and Louisa Anne (1818-1891), later Lady Waterford. With no male heir, his title became extinct.

Acquisition information:
Purchase of Dr. Lawrence Clark Powell, 1957-1958.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Correspondence
  2. Financial records
  3. Printed material
  4. Miscellaneous items
  5. Extraneous Miscellaneous Items.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website