Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Richmond
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Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller
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| Tenure | 9 August 1675 – 27 May 1723 |
| Successor | Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond |
| Other titles | 1st Duke of Lennox (Scotland) 1st Earl of March (England) 1st Earl of Darnley (Scotland) 1st Baron Settrington (England) 1st Lord Torbolton (Scotland) 1st Duke of Aubigny |
| Born | 29 July 1672 London, England |
| Died | 27 May 1723 (aged 50) Sussex, England |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Brudenell |
| Issue | Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond Louisa Lennox (Countess of Berkeley) Anne Lennox (Countess of Albemarle) |
| Parents | King Charles II of England Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth (mistress) |
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox, KG (born 29 July 1672, died 27 May 1723) lived near Chichester in Sussex, England. He was the youngest of King Charles II of England's seven sons born outside of marriage. Charles was the King's only son with his French partner, Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth. He was also given the important role of Hereditary Constable of Inverness Castle in Scotland.
Contents
His Titles and Honours
Becoming a Duke
In 1672, a distant cousin of King Charles II, named Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, passed away without children. This meant that some important titles became available again. These titles, like Duke of Richmond and Duke of Lennox, were very special to the royal family.
On 9 August 1675, King Charles II decided to give his young son, Charles Lennox, several new titles. He was made Duke of Richmond, Earl of March, and Baron Settrington in England. A month later, on 9 September 1675, he also received Scottish titles: Duke of Lennox, Earl of Darnley, and Baron Methuen of Torbolten.
Other Important Roles
Charles Lennox was also made a Knight of the Garter on 18 April 1681. This is a very high honour in England.
Later, in 1684, the King of France, Louis XIV, created a special French title for Charles's mother, Louise de Kérouaille. She became the "Duchesse d'Aubigny." This title was meant to be passed down to her children. Since Charles Lennox passed away before his mother, he never officially held this French dukedom himself. However, his son later inherited it from his grandmother.
Charles Lennox was also appointed Lord High Admiral of Scotland. This was a significant naval role, though his time in this position was from 1701 to 1705.
Freemasonry
In 1696, Charles Lennox was known to be a freemason in Chichester. This means he was part of a private society that focuses on brotherhood and moral lessons. His son also joined the Freemasons later on.
Family Life
On 8 January 1692, Charles Lennox married Anne Brudenell. She was the daughter of Francis Brudenell, Lord Brudenell. Charles and Anne had one son and two daughters:
- Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (1701–1750): He was their only son and inherited all his father's titles. During his father's life, he was known by the courtesy title of Earl of March.
- Lady Louisa Lennox: She married James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley.
- Lady Anne Lennox: She married Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle.
Supporting Cricket
Charles Lennox was a big supporter, or patron, of the game of cricket. Back then, cricket was just starting to become a professional sport. He helped it grow a lot in Sussex.
It's believed he was involved in the very first "great match" of cricket that was reported in the news. This happened in 1697. A newspaper called the Foreign Post wrote about it on 7 July 1697:
"The middle of last week a great match at cricket was played in Sussex; there were eleven of a side, and they played for fifty guineas apiece."
This report shows that important cricket matches were being played for large sums of money. The fact that it was "eleven-a-side" suggests that two strong teams were playing. Charles Lennox also sponsored a team in 1702 that played against a team from Arundel. His son, Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, also loved cricket and became a patron of teams in Sussex.
Death and Burial
Charles Lennox passed away on 27 May 1723. He was first buried on 7 June 1723 in the Richmond Chapel of Westminster Abbey in London. Later, on 16 August 1750, his body was moved and reburied in the Lady Chapel of Chichester Cathedral in Sussex.
His Legacy
Several places in the United States were named after Charles Lennox. For example, Richmond County, New York (which is the same as Staten Island), and Richmond County, Virginia, were named in his honour. Other US counties named "Richmond" were named after later Dukes from his family.
Through his daughter, Anne, he is an ancestor of Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. He is also an ancestor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, through both Anne and his elder son.
