Rupert of Bavaria
PRINCE, an English military officer; born in Prague, Bohemia, Dec. 17, 1619. He was the third son of Frederick V., elector palatine and King of Bohemia, by Elizabeth, daughter of James I. of England. After some military experience on the Continent he went to England to assist his uncle, RURAL CREDIT Charles I., and in 1642 was made general of the horse. He distinguished himself at Edgehill and Chalgrove, captured Birmingham and Lichfield in 1642, and Bristol in 1643, and displayed his courage at Marston Moor and Naseby in 1645. His feeble defense of Bristol against Fairfax involved him in temporary disgrace with Charles; but in 1648 he was made admiral of the English royalist fleet. He carried on a predatory naval war against Parliament, in European waters, till Blake forced him to escape to the West Indies, where he preyed on English and Spanish merchantmen. In 1653 he joined Charles II. at Versailles. After the Restoration he was appointed lord-high-admiral and served with Monk against the Dutch. He became governor of Windsor Castle, privy-councilor, etc. Many of his later introduced mezzotint engraving into Engyears were devoted to scientific study. He land. As one of the founders and the first governor of the Hudson Bay Company his name was given to RUPERTS- LAND (q. v.). He died in London, Nov. 29, 1682, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.