Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Cleveland

Short Biography

Charles Palmer, later FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Cleveland, 1st Duke of Southampton, Chief Butler of England (18 June 1662 – 9 September 1730), styled Baron Limerick before 1670 and Earl of Southampton between 1670 and 1675, was the eldest son of Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine (née Barbara Villiers, later 1st Duchess of Cleveland) and the illegitimate son of King Charles II of England and Scotland. As the putative son of Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine, his nominal father, he was styled Lord Limerick from birth. His birth marked the separation of his parents; Lord Castlemaine, a Roman Catholic, had him christened into the Roman Catholic faith, but six days later the King had him re-christened into the Church of England.