Charles Stanley Monck, the 4th Viscount, was born on October 10, 1819, in Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland.

He was an Irish politician, Governor of British North America (BNA) from 1861 to 1867 and Governor General of Canada from 1867 to 1868. In 1841, he graduated from Trinity College, Dublin (B.A.) and became a barrister. He succeeded his father as 4th Viscount Monck in 1849. He was elected to the British House of Commons in 1852 and served as the Lord of the Treasury (1855-1857). In 1861, he was appointed Governor General of BNA as well as Governor of the Province of Canada. Monck played an important role in reducing tensions between BNA and the U.S. during the American Civil War (1861–1865) in the Trent Affair in 1861. After Ottawa was chosen as Canada's capital in 1865, Monck bought Rideau Hall as the residence of the governor general. He received an honorary Doctor of Law from Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, on July 1, 1865. He attended the London Conference of 1866 and contributed to the British parliamentary debate concerning the BNA Act (Constitution Act, 1867). On July 1, 1867, he took his new oath of office as Governor General of the Dominion of Canada. As his term ended in 1868, he returned to Ireland and was appointed Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George in 1869 and a member of the Privy Council to recognize his achievements in Canada. Monck was lord lieutenant of County Dublin from 1874 to 1892.

In 1844, he married his cousin Lady Elizabeth Louise Mary Monck (1814–1892). He died on November 29, 1894, in Charleville, County Wicklow, Ireland.