He was the son of a Prussian merchant who made a fortune from various enterprises including supplying clothes to the
Russian Army. His education took place under the guidance of the
Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who was resident in
England. After completing his education he returned to
Berlin, where he was expected to inherit his father's fortune. However, the Prussian defeat in the
War of the Fourth Coalition ruined his father, as the
King of Prussia was unable to pay him for the clothes supplied to the
Prussian Army. Hesse was sent back to England and taken under the protection of the now-widowed
Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach. The
Duchess of York, who had been born a princess of Prussia, also interested herself on her countryman's behalf, and in December 1808, at the age of seventeen, Hesse was given a commission as
cornet in the
18th Light Dragoons by the
Duke of York,
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Hesse was good-looking, attractive, and a good horseman, and was soon received in society. However, his good fortune led to rumours about his parentage which Hesse did nothing to dispel.
Lady Blessington says that Hesse was presumed to be a son of the Margrave and Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach born before their marriage, and was present at all the actions where the 18th Light Dragoons were engaged, which had been sent out and delivered personally to him by
Lord Wellington after the Battle of Vitoria. The letters were still in the possession of the
Comtesse de Flahaut (Keith's daughter) in 1845. He travelled in her suite as far as
Naples, and remained there when the Princess travelled on to
Rome in March 1815. On 18 June 1815 Hesse was present with the 18th Light Dragoons at the
Battle of Waterloo, where he was wounded; he was consequently awarded the
Waterloo Medal. and he retired on
half-pay on 25 February 1819. On 17 January 1825 he married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Chambre of
Nottingham Place. Captain Gronow describes his friend Hesse's life as "full of singular incidents", and mentions an occasion when his overly close friendship with the
Queen of Naples had caused him to be deported from the country. He was also a noted duellist. In 1832, following a dispute over a game of cards, Hesse fought a duel in the
Bois de Vincennes with
Count Léon, an illegitimate son of
Napoleon Bonaparte. Hesse fired first, without waiting, and Léon's return shot wounded Hesse in the chest. Charles Hesse died at
Nogent-sur-Marne on 24 February 1832. ==References==