William Careless
William Careless, later Carlos | |
|---|---|
King Charles II and Colonel William Careless in the Royal Oak by Isaac Fuller | |
| Born | c. 1610 Broom Hall, Brewood, Staffordshire |
| Died | 1689 London |
| Buried | St. Mary the Virgin and St. Chad churchyard, Brewood. |
| Allegiance | Royalist |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | A troop and later a regiment of cavalry, the garrison of Tong Castle, officer of the Royal Guard, |
| Battles / wars | English Civil War, Bolton Massacre, Battle of Marston Moor, Battle of Worcester, Battle of the Dunes (1658) |
Colonel William Careless (surname variants include Carelesse, Carless, Carles and Carlis) (died 1689) was a Royalist officer of the English Civil War. It has been estimated in various written sources that he was born c. 1620, however, it is more likely that he was born c. 1610. He was the second son of John Careless of Broom Hall, Brewood, Staffordshire, and his wife Ellen Fluit. He is chiefly remembered as the companion of King Charles II when the fugitive monarch hid in the Royal Oak following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. His surname was changed to Carlos, the Spanish for Charles, by order of Charles II. He died in 1689.