Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox

Charles Stewart (* 1555 in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, † 1576 in London ) was a Scottish nobleman of the family of Stewart, 5th Earl of Lennox and Lord Darnley.

Charles was the second son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, and his wife Margaret Douglas, as well as the younger brother of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.

Charles ' mother was a niece of King Henry VIII of England and himself an uncle of King James VI. of Scotland, for which he also led the regency. The title of his father had fallen after his assassination in 1571 to the Crown. 1572 Charles, however, was re-appointed to the Earl of Lennox, as well as his brother had been murdered in 1567.

As a member of the royal family took his marriage the Queen's permission. Without this approval, he married in 1574 Elizabeth ( 1555-1582 ), daughter of William Cavendish and Elizabeth Hardwicke, by whom he had one daughter:

• Arbella Stuart (1575-1615), ∞ 1610 William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset

The Earl died at the age of 21 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His daughter was allowed because of their gender and the fact that she was born in England, not succeed as Countess of Lennox. The county passed to Robert Stewart, 6th Earl of Lennox, an uncle of Charles.