Person    | Male  Born 29/5/1630  Died 6/2/1685

King Charles II

Reigned: 1660 - 1685. Born at St James's Palace. The son of the beheaded Charles I, he was the king "restored" to the throne after the civil war.

Married Catherine of Braganza in 1662 but she produced no children that survived. Meanwhile, with his many mistresses, including Nell Gwynne and Louise De Keroualle, Charles sired at least 13 illegitimate children. Died Whitehall Palace. Succeeded by his brother James II.

He was a founder member of a company, the Royal African Company, set up for trade with Africa which quickly moved into the slave trade. He invested in the company and bought at least one slave himself.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
King Charles II

Commemorated ati

Anchor Iron Wharf - history

{On the base of the monument:} Anchor Iron Wharf In 964 King Edgar granted th...

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Charles II - Sloane Square

{Running around the urn near the top:} Sweet Thames run softly till I end my ...

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Charles II statue - Soho Square

Erected in the King's lifetime - see Fenner Brockway for our list of other su...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
King Charles II

Creations i

The Monument - east and south

{East face - Latin inscription with a bronze plaque below:} Translation of th...

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Other Subjects

William Craft

William Craft

Slavery abolitionist. Born in Macon, Georgia. He and his wife Ellen were enslaved and escaped to the north of America. See her page for more details.

Person, Race Issues, USA

2 memorials
Tobias Rustat

Tobias Rustat

Courtier to King Charles II and a benefactor of the University of Cambridge. He was an investor in, and Assistant (what we'd call Director) of, the Royal African Company, an English mercantile comp...

Person, Benefactor, Race Issues

2 memorials
Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson

Singer, actor (also athlete and civil rights activist). Born Princeton, New Jersey to a former slave, who educated himself to become a theologian and who had great expectations of his son, expectat...

Person, Cinema, Music / songs, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, Theatre, USA

1 memorial
Bishop Beilby Porteus

Bishop Beilby Porteus

Born York. Bishop of London 1787 - 1809. The first senior church official to support the abolition of slavery. Died at Fulham Palace.

Person, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial
Rev. John Venn

Rev. John Venn

Clergyman and anti-slavery campaigner.  Born Clapham, son of the vicar at the time.  1792, under John Thornton's will, appointed rector of Clapham, a post he held until his death and where he was a...

Person, Race Issues, Religion

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Shakespeare statue - EC2

Shakespeare statue - EC2

EC2, New Inn Yard

We first captured this chap at his temporary resting place outside Southwark Cathedral.  He was moved here in 2020-1 in recognition of th...

1 subject commemorated
Operation Mincemeat

Operation Mincemeat

E8, Lower Clapton Road, St John's Churchyard

The Biblical quotation draws attention to the secrecy which was essential to the success of Operation Mincemeat (the 'watch' being a guar...

5 subjects commemorated, 4 creators
Battle of Mareth

Battle of Mareth

SW1, Birdcage Walk, Guards Museum

This monument, created from local stone, was originally erected on the battlefield in North Africa.  First moved into a nearby garden for...

4 subjects commemorated