Charlton Island (Sivukutaitiarruvik) is an uninhabited island located in James Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. Located northwest of Rupert Bay, it has an area of , making it the second largest island (after Akimiski Island) in James Bay.
The island has one named locality: Charlton Depot (<small></small>).
History
Thomas James, who gave his name to James Bay, wintered here in 1631 and named the island after Prince Charles. The founders of Fort-Rupert (1668) must have seen it and Charles Bayly was nearly driven ashore here in 1674. Some time before 1679 Bayly proposed making Charlton Island a central depot and meeting place for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), and in 1680, Charlton Depot (also known as Charlton Island Depot) was established. It served as a transshipment point and warehouse for the annual cargo to and from Moose Factory, Albany, and Rupert House, whose harbours were too shallow and rough for safe unloading and loading of large ships bound for England. In 1684, the HBC build a fort on the island. Two years later, the fort was captured by the French during their Hudson Bay expedition.
In 1713, Rupert's Land, including all the posts on James Bay, was returned to England as part of the Treaty of Utrecht. After this, the HBC made Moose Factory its supply depot for James Bay, and Charlton Island was only used on rare occasions.