10. Nell Gwyn Slept Her Way Into the Royal Court
Nell Gwyn was born in London to a mother who ran a brothel, then known as a “bawdy house.” Growing up amidst men who were keen for female entertainment, Nell became a bit of an actress and comedian, with all of the poise that one might expect from a modern-day celebrity. This happened during a time of unmitigated prudishness, so it was even more scandalous that a young child was growing up with these kinds of behaviors. As a teenager, she began to take on her own lovers and had so many that by the time that she had worked her way to being one of King Charles II’s mistresses; apparently, she called him Charles III because he was the third Charles that she had had sex with during her life.
Unlike other political schemers, Nell was forthright and open about her relationship with Charles and how she was benefitting from him. She openly called herself “the Protestant whore” and was not ashamed about how her relationship with him brought her out of her youthful bawdy-house poverty. She had two sons with him, one of whom survived, Charles Beauclerk, who became the First Duke of St. Albans. After the death of King Charles, he implored his brother, James, to take care of Nell. She received a pension for the rest of her life.