Biography of James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge 1663-1667

On 3rd September 1660 [his father] James, Duke of York (age 26) and [his mother] Anne Hyde (age 23) were married in secret. She by marriage Duchess York. She gave birth to their son [his brother] Charles Stewart seven weeks later. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon (age 51) and [his grandmother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon (age 43). He the son of [his grandfather] King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and [his grandmother] Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 50).

On 12th July 1663 James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge was born to James, Duke of York (age 29) and Anne Hyde Duchess of York (age 26) at St James's Palace [Map].

In 1666 James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge (age 2) was appointed 468th Knight of the Garter by [his uncle] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 35).

On 3rd December 1666 James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge (age 3) was created 1st Duke Cambridge by [his father] James, Duke of York (age 33). See Samuel Pepys' Diary 1666 December 06.

Those present included [his uncle] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 36), James, Duke of York, Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland (age 46), William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 75), George Monck 1st Duke Albemarle (age 57), Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 79), Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond (age 27), Edward Montagu 2nd Earl Manchester (age 64), James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch (age 17).

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29th April 1667. Thence to Sir G. Carteret (age 57), and there talked a little while about office business, and thence by coach home, in several places paying my debts in order to my evening my accounts this month, and thence by and by to White Hall again to Sir G. Carteret to dinner, where very good company and discourse, and I think it my part to keep in there now more than ordinary because of the probability of my Lord's coming soon home. Our Commissioners for the treaty set out this morning betimes down the river. Here I hear that the Duke of Cambridge (age 3), the [his father] Duke of York's (age 33) son, is very sick; and my Lord Treasurer (age 60) very bad of the stone, and hath been so some days.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th April 1667. Thence to the office, where we sat all the morning, but little to do, and then to the 'Change [Map], where for certain I hear, and the News book declares, a peace between France and Portugal. Met here with Mr. Pierce, and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge (age 3) is very ill and full of spots about his body, that Dr. Frazier (age 57) knows not what to think of it.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th May 1667. After dinner comes Fist, and he and I to our report again till 9 o'clock, and then by coach to my [his grandfather] Chancellor's (age 58), where I met Mr. Povy (age 53), expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners for Tangier. Here I understand how the two Dukes, both the only sons of the [his father] Duke of York (age 33), are sick even to danger, and that on Sunday last they were both so ill, as that the poor [his mother] Duchess (age 30) was in doubt which would die first: the Duke of Cambridge (age 3) of some general disease; the other little Duke (age 18), whose title I know not, of the convulsion fits, of which he had four this morning. Fear that either of them might be dead, did make us think that it was the occasion that the Duke of York and others were not come to the meeting of the Commission which was designed, and my Chancellor did expect.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 23rd May 1667. This day I hear also that last night the [his brother] Duke of Kendall (deceased), second son of the [his father] Duke of York (age 33), did die; and that the other, Duke of Cambridge (age 3), continues very ill still. This afternoon I had opportunity para jouer with Mrs. Pen (age 16), tokendo her mammailles and baisando elle, being sola in the casa of her pater, and she fort willing.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 25th May 1667. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, telling me that the Duke of Cambridge (age 3) continues very ill, so as they do despair of his living.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27th May 1667. So to my chamber, and there did some little business, and then abroad, and stopped at the Bear-garden-stairs, there to see a prize fought. But the house so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an alehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited; and upon a stool did see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and a waterman. The former had the better all along, till by and by the latter dropped his sword out of his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt. At last the rabble broke up, and so I away to White Hall and so to St. James's, but I found not Sir W. Coventry (age 39), so into the Park and took a turn or two, it being a most sweet day, and so by water home, and with my father and wife walked in the garden, and then anon to supper and to bed. The Duke of Cambridge (age 3) very ill still.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 5th June 1667. So to bed. The Duke of Cambridge (age 3) past hopes of living still.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 6th June 1667. This afternoon comes Mr. Pierce to me about some business, and tells me that the Duke of Cambridge (age 3) is yet living, but every minute expected to die, and is given over by all people, which indeed is a sad loss.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th June 1667. Lord's Day. Up, and by water to White Hall, and so walked to St. James's, where I hear that the Duke of Cambridge (age 3), who was given over long since by the Doctors, is now likely to recover; for which God be praised!

On 20th June 1667 James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge (age 3) died at Richmond Palace [Map]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Duke Cambridge extinct.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 22nd June 1667. They being gone, by and by comes Sir W. Pen (age 46) home, and he and I together talking. He hath been at Court; and in the first place, I hear the Duke of Cambridge (deceased) is dead; a which is a great loss to the nation, having, I think, never an heyre male now of the King's or Duke's to succeed to the Crown. He tells me that they do begin already to damn the Dutch, and call them cowards at White Hall, and think of them and their business no better than they used to do; which is very sad.

On 20th September 1673 [his father] James, Duke of York (age 39) and [his step-mother] Mary of Modena Queen Consort England Scotland and Ireland (age 14) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of [his grandfather] King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and [his grandmother] Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England.