The Young Pretender

"The Young Pretender" was a nickname for Charles Edward Stuart (1745–1788), grandson of the deposed King James II of England. He was a key figure in the Jacobite Risings, efforts to restore his family to the British throne. In 1745, at about 23 years old, he led a rebellion called the Jacobite Rising of 1745, hoping to reclaim the throne for his family. Although he initially gained support in Scotland, the uprising ultimately failed at the Battle of Culloden. His nickname reflects both his youthful age and the perception that some saw him as falsely claiming to be a rightful monarch.