Esmé Stewart, 2nd Duke of Richmond facts for kids
Esmé Stuart, 2nd Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox (born November 2, 1649 – died August 10, 1660) was a young boy who inherited important titles. He was the son of James Stewart, 1st Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox. His mother was Mary Villiers. She was the only daughter of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.
Esmé's father was a strong supporter of King Charles I. This was during the time of the English Civil War. After his father died in 1655, Esmé and his mother moved to France. They lived there in exile. Sadly, Esmé died in Paris in 1660. He was only 10 years old and passed away from smallpox. After his death, his titles went to his cousin, Charles Stewart.
Remembering Esmé Stuart
Esmé Stuart was buried on September 4, 1660. His burial place is in Westminster Abbey in London. He rests in the Richmond Vault, which is inside the Henry VII Chapel.
Esmé's Monument
Above his burial spot, there is a simple monument. It is a black stone pillar, called an obelisk. This obelisk stands on four small skull carvings. At the very top, there is an urn. This urn holds Esmé's heart.
On the base of the monument, you can see a ducal coronet. This is a special crown for a duke. Below it are the letters "ES RL". These stand for Esme Stuart, Richmond, Lennox.
What the Monument Says
The monument has words written in Latin. They tell us about Esmé. The message explains that his heart is in the urn. His body rests below. It says he was a very famous Duke. He inherited his titles from his father, James. His mother, Mary, gave him life. He died in Paris when he was 10 years old. This happened on August 10, 1660.
