Stuart or Stewart, Prince Charles Edward, known as the Young Pretender and Bonnie Prince Charlie 1720-88
Claimant to the throne of England and Scotland

Charles Edward Stuart was the elder son of James Francis Stuart, the Old Pretender, and grandson of James VII and II. He was born and educated in Rome, where he became the centre of Jacobite hopes. In 1744 he went to France to head the projected invasion of England, but was delayed in France for over a year by storms and the threat of the British fleet. In July 1745 he landed with seven followers at Eriskay in the Hebrides, and on 19 August he raised his father's standard in Glenfinnan.

The clansmen flocked to his support. Edinburgh surrendered, but the castle held out; and Charles kept court at Holyroodhouse, the palace of his ancestors. His army won a victory over Sir John Cope at Prestonpans (21 September), and on 1 November he left for London at the head of 6,500 men. He took Carlisle and advanced as far as Derby. Londoners became alarmed, with the cream of the British army engaged on the Continent. However, Charles was persuaded against his will to turn back because of lack of support in England, and although he won a further victory against the government forces at Falkirk on 17 January 1746, he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Duke of Cumberland's troops at Culloden Moor on 16 April.

The rising was ruthlessly suppressed, and Charles was hunted in the highlands and islands for five months with a price of �30,000 on his head, but no one betrayed him. He was helped by Flora Macdonald when, disguised as her maid 'Betty Burke', he crossed to Portree in June 1746. He landed in Brittany on 29 September, and was given hospitality at the French court until the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) required his expulsion from France.

He made two or three secret visits to London between 1750 and 1760, even declaring himself a Protestant. He assumed the title of Charles III of Great Britain and retired to Florence, where he married in 1772 Louisa, Countess of Albany, but the marriage was later dissolved. He had a daughter, Charlotte (1753-89), by his mistress Clementina Walkinshaw, whom he created Duchess of Albany. He died in Rome and was buried at Frascati, later at St Peter's.

Bibliography: Margaret Forster, The Rash Adventurer (1973); David Daiches, Charles Edward Stuart (1973); John Prebble, Culloden (1961).