Biography of Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield 1664-1718

On 05 Sep 1664 Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield was born illegitimately to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 34) and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 23).

John Evelyn's Diary. 17 Oct 1671. My Lord Henry Howard (age 43) coming this night to visit my Lord Chamberlain, and staying a day, would needs have me go with him to Norwich, Norfolk [Map], promising to convey me back, after a day or two; this, as I could not refuse, I was not hard to be pursuaded to, having a desire to see that famous scholar and physician, Dr. T. Browne (age 65), author of the Religio Medici and Vulgar Errors, now lately knighted. Thither, then, went my Lord and I alone, in his flying chariot with six horses; and by the way, discoursing with me of several of his concerns, he acquainted me of his going to marry his eldest son to one of the [her father] King's (age 41) natural daughters [Note. Either [her illegitimate sister] Anne Fitzroy Countess Sussex (age 10) or Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 7).], by the [her mother] Duchess of Cleveland (age 30); by which he reckoned he should come into mighty favor. He also told me that, though he kept that idle creature, Mrs. B-- [Note. Jane Bickerton Duchess Norfolk (age 28)], and would leave £200 a year to the son [Note. Henry Howard and Jane Bickerton had three sons; not clear which is being referred to since the eldest may have died and the reference may be to a surviving son.] he had by her, he would never marry her, and that the King himself had cautioned him against it. All the world knows how he kept his promise [Note. meaning he didn't keep his promise since Henry Howard did marry Jane Bickerton - this a case of John Evelyn writing his diary retrospectively?], and I was sorry at heart to hear what now he confessed to me; and that a person and a family which I so much honored for the sake of that noble and illustrious friend of mine, his grandfather, should dishonor and pollute them both with those base and vicious courses he of late had taken since the death of Sir Samuel Tuke (age 56), and that of his own virtuous lady (my Lady Anne Somerset, sister to the Marquis); who, while they lived, preserved this gentleman by their example and advice from those many extravagances that impaired both his fortune and reputation.

In 1674 Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 10) was created 1st Earl Lichfield as a consequence of his being betrothed to Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 9), a natural daughter of [her father] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 43).

On 06 Feb 1677 Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 14) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 12) were married. She by marriage Countess Lichfield. She the illegitmate daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46) and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 36). He the son of Francis Lee 4th Baronet and Elizabeth Pope Countess Lindsey. They were third cousins.

On 13 Mar 1679 [her daughter] Charlotte Lee Baroness Baltimore was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 16) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 14) at St James' Park [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 06 May 1680 [her son] Charles Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 17) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 15). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 06 Jun 1681 [her son] Edward Henry Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 18) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 16). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 13 Nov 1681 [her son] James Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 18) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 17). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24 Jan 1682. This evening I was at the entertainment of the Morocco Ambassador at the Duchess of Portsmouth's (age 32) glorious apartments at Whitehall [Map], where was a great banquet of sweetmeats and music; but at which both the Ambassador and his retinue behaved themselves with extraordinary moderation and modesty, though placed about a long table, a lady between two Moors, and among these were the [her father] King's (age 51) natural children, namely, Lady Lichfield (age 17) and [her illegitimate sister] Sussex (age 20), the Duchess of Portsmouth, Nelly (age 31), etc., concubines, and cattle of that sort, as splendid as jewels and excess of bravery could make them; the Moors neither admiring nor seeming to regard anything, furniture or the like, with any earnestness, and but decently tasting of the banquet. They drank a little milk and water, but not a drop of wine; they also drank of a sorbet and jacolatt [Note. This may be chocolate?]; did not look about, or stare on the ladies, or express the least surprise, but with a courtly negligence in pace, countenance, and whole behavior, answering only to such questions as were asked with a great deal of wit and gallantry, and so gravely took leave with this compliment, that God would bless the Duchess of Portsmouth and the [her illegitimate half-brother] Prince (age 9), her son meaning the little Duke of Richmond. The King came in at the latter end, just as the Ambassador was going away. In this manner was this slave (for he was no more at home) entertained by most of the nobility in town, and went often to Hyde Park [Map] on horseback, where he and his retinue showed their extraordinary activity in horsemanship, and flinging and catching their lances at full speed; they rode very short, and could stand upright at full speed, managing their spears with incredible agility. He went sometimes to the theaters, where, upon any foolish or fantastical action, he could not forbear laughing, but he endeavored to hide it with extraordinary modesty and gravity. In a word, the Russian Ambassador, still at Court behaved himself like a clown compared to this civil heathen.

On 14 Feb 1685 [her son] Francis Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 22) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 20). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 29 Jun 1686 [her daughter] Anne Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 23) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 21). She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 05 Jun 1688 [her son] Charles Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 25) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 23). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 12 Mar 1690 [her son] George Henry Lee 2nd Earl Lichfield was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 27) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 25). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 10 Sep 1692 [her son] Francis Henry Fitzroy Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 29) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 28). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 26 May 1693 [her daughter] Elizabeth Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 30) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 28). She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 03 Mar 1695 [her daughter] Barbara Lee Lady Browne was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 32) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 30). She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 06 Dec 1697 [her daughter] Mary Isabella Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 34) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 33). She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 10 May 1698 [her son] Fitzroy Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 35) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 33). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 02 Jan 1699 [her son-in-law] Benedict Calvert 4th Baron Baltimore (age 19) and [her daughter] Charlotte Lee Baroness Baltimore (age 19) were married. She by marriage Baroness Baltimore of Longford in Leinster. She the daughter of Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 35) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 34). She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 02 Jan 1700 [her son] Fitzroy Henry Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 36) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 35). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 24 Jun 1701 [her son] William Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 38) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 36). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 25 Aug 1703 [her son] Thomas Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 40) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 38). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 03 Dec 1704 [her son] John Lee was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 41) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 40). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 03 Jul 1706 [her son] Robert Lee 4th Earl Lichfield was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 43) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 41). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 09 Oct 1709 [her mother] Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 68) died at Chiswick Mall. Her son [her illegitimate brother] Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland (age 47) succeeded 2nd Duke Cleveland, 2nd Earl of Southampton and 2nd Baron Nonsuch. Anne Pulteney Duchess Southampton Duchess of Cleveland (age 45) by marriage Duchess Cleveland.

After 1716. Monument in All Saints Church, Spelsbury [Map] to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 52) and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 51) (natural daughter of [her father] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland).

Before 1718 Godfrey Kneller (age 71). Portrait of Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 53).

On 17 Feb 1718 Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 53) died. She a natural daughter of [her father] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.