Robert Charles Frederic (also spelled Frederick in his own correspondence) was the King of the Miskito, 1824-1842.

Succession

In his youth he was educated in Jamaica along with George Frederick, his brother. He became king following the murder of his brother and predecessor, George Frederick by his wife, and was subsequently crowned in Belize on 23 April 1824. A number of writers in the nineteenth century described the rapid succession of several kings between George Frederic and Robert Charles Frederic, which Olien has challenged on the basis of a careful reading of the original sources.

Reign

In a series of decrees issued in 26 October 1832, Robert Charles forbade his subjects to make raids on neighboring indigenous groups and abolished slavery in his domains, effective on 1 November. That same year, he also decreed that tax rates on "all free male subjects" over the age of 14 as well as foreigners would pay one dollar in tax (a decrease from the former rate of three dollars). These taxes were to be paid on the 1st of September annually to "any chiefs that I may nominate to receive said taxes" and be further transmitted by them to the treasury. an attached schedule shows that slaves were also charged this rate, to be paid by their masters, and other indigenous people who were working in the country would pay a much lower rate of 4 rials, payable by their employers.

Robert Charles Frederic also granted special trading privileges to British merchants, for example, he issued on to the brothers Thomas and Joseph Knap in 1833 and mentioned similar grants made earlier to Samuel and Peter Sheppard. The grants gave exclusive trading rights in exchange for a fixed annual payment of 100 dollars.

When Thomas Young met him in 1839, he spoke good English and was dressed in an Royal Navy uniform

Royal Navy uniform

The uniforms of the Royal Navy have evolved gradually since the first uniform regulations for officers were issued in 1748. The predominant colours of Royal Navy uniforms are navy blue and white...

. He tried offenders in his country using an English court system

Courts of England and Wales

Her Majesty's Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The United Kingdom does not have...

with a jury.

Final Days

In 1840 Robert Charles left a will indicating that in the event of his death, " the affairs of my kingdom shall be continued in the hands of the Commissioners appointed by me upon the nomination" of the Superintendent of the Coast, Colonel MacDonald. In addition to granting this commission full powers to act as sovereign authority of the state, Robert Charles also established the Church of England as the official church of the kingdom. In addition to these acts of state, Robert Charles also made provisions for his children, Princes George, William Clarence, and Alexander, and Princesses Agnes and Victoria to be supervised by the Commission and Colonel MacDonald, their education to be provided from the revenues of the Miskito nation, as well as support for his Queen, Juliana.