CHARLES XIII, King of Sweden: b. 7 Oct. 1748; d. 5 Feb. 1818. He was the second son of King Adolphus Frederick. Appointed at his birth high-admiral of Sweden, his educa tion was directed chiefly to the learning of naval tactics. In 1770 he commenced the tour of Europe. The death of Adolphus Frederick recalled him to Sweden, where he took an im portant part in the revolution of 1772. His brother, Gustavus III, appointed him governor general of Stockholm and Duke of Sudermann land. In the war with Russia, in 1788, he commanded the fleet, defeated the Russians in the Gulf of Finland, and, in the most danger ous season of the year, brought back his fleet in safety to the harbor of Carlscrona, after which he was appointed governor-general of Finland. After the murder of Gustavus III, in 1792, he was placed at the head of the regency, and, happily for Sweden, preserved peace with other nations, while he united with Denmark for the protection of the navigation in the northern seas. In 1796 he resigned the government to Gustavus Adolphus IV, who had become of age, and retired to his castle of Rosersberg. He did not again appear in public
life till a revolution hurled Gustavus Adolphus IV, in 1809, from the throne, and placed Charles at the head of the state, as administrator of the realm, and some months afterward, 20 June 1809, as king of Sweden, at a very critical period. The peace with Russia, at Frederik sham, 17 Sept. 1809, gave the country the tran quillity necessary for repainn, its heavy losses and for completing the fabric of the constitu tion. He had already adopted 'rince Christian of Holstein-Sonderburg-Augu tenburg as his successor, and after his death, Marshal Berna dotte, who was elected by the Estates, in Au gust 1810, to take the place of the Prince. On him he bestowed his entire confidence. His prudent conduct in the war between France and Russia in 1812 procured Sweden an in demnification for Finland by the acquisition of Norway, 4 Nov. 1814.