Early Life
Barbara was born at Cleveland House in St Martin in the Fields, London, England on 16 July 1672. Around the time she was born, Louise de Kérouaille was supplanting her mother in the king's bed.
Although her mother insisted she was a daughter of the king, Barbara was probably fathered by either John Churchill, later Duke of Marlborough, a second cousin of her mother, or Lord Chesterfield, whom she is said to have resembled in her features. Boyer says of Barbara: "I do not find the King ever owned her for his daughter; but a great man now living is her reputed father. It is generally believ'd that Mr. Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough, was her father."
Finally, it may be remarked that her mother's husband, Lord Castlemaine, believed her to be his daughter, and bequeathed her his estate. Charles, however, always insisted on acknowledging her as his child, while disavowing her in private.
She and her mother were painted by Thomas Pooley in 1677. They are seen holding a basket of flowers; Barbara Fitzroy is portrayed as a smiling, round-faced five-year-old with blonde curls.
Read more about this topic: Lady Barbara FitzRoy
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