Sophia Bulkeley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophia Bulkeley
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Sophia Bulkeley, painted by Henri Gascar.
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Sophia Stuart
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| Occupation | Maid of honour, courtier |
| Political party | Jacobite |
| Spouse(s) | Henry Bulkeley |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Walter Stuart Sophia Stuart |
| Relatives | Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond (sister) |
Sophia Bulkeley (born Stewart; active from 1660 to 1718) was an important Scottish woman who worked in the royal court. She was a supporter of the Jacobite cause, which aimed to bring the Stuart family back to the throne of Great Britain.
Sophia's Early Life
Sophia Stewart was born into a noble Scottish family. Her father was Walter Stewart, and her older sister was the famous court beauty, Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond. The Stewart family was very loyal to the King, a group known as royalists. Because of political changes in England, the family had to live in France for a while during a period called the Commonwealth.
Life at Court
After the King was restored to power in 1660, Sophia returned to England. In 1671, she became a maid of honour to Queen Catherine of Braganza. A maid of honour was a young woman who helped the Queen and attended to her needs at court.
A few years later, Sophia married Henry Bulkeley. Henry was also connected to the royal court, serving as the master of the household for both King Charles II and King James II. This important marriage helped Sophia become a central figure in the royal court. By 1685, she became a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Mary of Modena, which was an even closer position to the Queen.
In October 1688, Sophia was present with Queen Mary when her son, James, Prince of Wales, was born. This was a very important event for the royal family. However, later that year, a major political change called the Glorious Revolution happened. This led to King James II losing his throne. Sophia moved with the Queen and the Stuart court to France in December 1688.
Later Years
Sophia Bulkeley remained a loyal supporter of the Jacobite cause even after the King was removed from power. She tried to return to England several times for personal reasons, especially to deal with financial matters. She successfully visited England in 1702. She tried again in 1713 and 1718, but she was not allowed to return on those occasions.
Her Family
Sophia and Henry Bulkeley had six children together. Some of their children also had interesting lives and connections:
- François de Bulkeley: He became a Lieutenant-general in France.
- Charlotte: She married twice, first to Charles O'Brien, 5th Viscount Clare, and later to Daniel O'Mahony.
- Anne: She married James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, who was the son of King James II.
