CHARLES

n.

Swedish Karl

born Nov. 8, 1622, Nyköping Castle, Swed.

died Feb. 13, 1660, Göteborg

King of Sweden (1809–18) and first king of the union of Sweden and Norway (1814–18).

Second son of King Adolf Frederick (1710–71), he served as admiral of the fleet in the Russo-Swedish war. On the death of his brother Gustav III (1792), Charles became regent for his nephew Gustav IV . After the latter's deposition in 1809, Charles was elected king. He was prematurely aged and childless. In 1810 Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (later Charles XIV John ) was named heir apparent; from then on, Charles was eclipsed by the crown prince.