This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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Extant Dukedoms of England is in Dukedoms of England.
On 25th August 1942 the Dunbeath Air Crash at Eagle's Rock [Map] near Dunbeath killed 14 of 15 passengers and crew, including Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was on duty as an Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force on a mission to Reykjavik. A Royal Air Force Board of Inquiry determined that the crash was the result of a navigational error by the crew.
Prince George Windsor 1st Duke Kent [aged 39] died in a plane crashEdward Windsor 2nd Duke Kent [aged 6] succeeded 2nd Duke Kent.
Also killed were:
Lt. John Crowther, RNVR Private Secretary.
LAC. John Walter Holes, Batman.
Flt Lt. Frank McKenzie Goyen, 42057 RAF, Captain (Pilot).
Wg Cdr. Thomas Lawton Moseley, 33064 RAF, CO of 228 Squadron, 1st pilot.
Pilot Officer Sydney Wood Smith, 403961 RAAF, 2nd pilot.
Pilot Officer George Richard Saunders, 126975 RAFVR, Navigator.
Pilot Officer Michael Strutt [aged 28] J15062 RCAF, Air Gunner.
Flight Sargeant William Royston Jones 523047 RAF, Flight Mechanic Engineer / Air Gunner.
Flight Sargeant Charles Norman Lewis 517386 RAF, Airframe Fitter.
Flight Sargeant Ernest James Hewerdine 566884 RAF, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
Flight Sargeant Andrew Simpson Wilson Jack 970168 RAFVR, Air Gunner (Rear).
Sgt. Edward Francis Blacklock 405467 RNZAF, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
Sgt. Arthur Rowland Catt 1252994 RAFVR, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
Sgt. Leonard Edward Sweett 570678 RAF, Fitter.
On 10th June 1974 Henry Windsor 1st Duke Gloucester [aged 74] died. His son Richard [aged 29] succeeded 2nd Duke Gloucester. Memorials at St Andrews Church, Barnwell [Map] to Henry Windsor 1st Duke Gloucester who lived nearby and worshipped at the church.
Richard Alexander Walter Windsor 2nd Duke Gloucester: On 26th August 1944 he was born to Henry Windsor 1st Duke Gloucester and Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott Duchess Gloucester. He a grandson of King George V of the United Kingdom.
On 15th November 1984 Percy Hamilton Seymour 18th Duke of Somerset [aged 74] died. His son John [aged 31] succeeded 19th Duke Somerset, 17th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy. Judith Rose Hull Duchess Somerset by marriage Duchess Somerset.
In 1986 Prince Andrew Windsor 1st Duke of York [aged 25] was created 1st Duke York.
On 8th October 1988 Charles Beauclerk 13th Duke St Albans [aged 73] died. His son Murray [aged 49] succeeded 14th Duke St Albans, 14th Earl Burford, 14th Baron Heddington, 11th Baron Vere of Hanworth in Middlesex.
On 31st October 1995 Henry Percy 11th Duke of Northumberland [aged 42] died from an overdose of amphetamines. He was unmarried. His brother Ralph [aged 38] succeeded 12th Duke Northumberland, 9th Earl Beverley, 11th Baron Percy, 15th Baronet Smithson of Stanwick in Yorkshire.
On 4th January 1999 Charles John Robert Manners 10th Duke Rutland [aged 79] died. His son David [aged 39] succeeded 11th Duke Rutland, 11th Marquess Grandby, 19th Earl of Rutland, 11th Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire, 5th Baron Roos of Belvoir in Leicestershire.
On 24th June 2002 Miles Stapleton Fitzalan Howard 17th Duke of Norfolk [aged 86] died. His son Edward [aged 45] succeeded 18th Duke Norfolk, 36th Earl Arundel, 19th Earl Surrey, 16th Earl Norfolk, 26th Baron Maltravers, 26th Baron Arundel, 5th Baron Howard of Glossop in Derbyshire, 13th Baron Beaumont. Georgina Susan Gore Duchess of Norfolk [aged 40] by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
On 25th July 2002 Angus Montagu 12th Duke of Manchester [aged 63] died. His son Alexander [aged 39] succeeded 13th Duke Manchester, 16th Earl Manchester, 16th Viscount Mandeville, 16th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.
On 13th June 2003 Henry Robin Ian Russell 14th Duke Bedford [aged 63] died. His son Andrew [aged 41] succeeded 15th Duke Bedford, 15th Marquess Tavistock, 19th Earl Bedford, 19th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 17th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 15th Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 3rd May 2004 Andrew Cavendish 11th Duke Devonshire [aged 84] died. His son Peregrine [aged 60] succeeded 12th Duke Devonshire, 15th Earl Devonshire, 15th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 7th Earl Burlington. Amanda Carmen Heywood-Lonsdale Duchess of Devonshire [aged 60] by marriage Duchess Devonshire.
On 5th June 2010 Angus Douglas-Hamilton 15th Duke of Hamilton 12th Duke Brandon [aged 71] died. His son Alexander [aged 32] succeeded 16th Duke Hamilton, 13th Duke Brandon of Suffolk, 11th Marquess Douglas, 13th Baron Dutton of Cheshire.
In 2011 William Prince of Wales [aged 28] was created 1st Duke Cambridge.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 7th April 2011 Hugh Denis Charles Fitzroy 11th Duke Grafton [aged 92] died at Euston Hall, Suffolk. His grandson Henry [aged 33] succeeded 12th Duke Grafton, 12th Earl Euston, 12th Viscount Ipswich, 12th Baron Sudbury. Olivia Staden Duchess Grafton by marriage Duchess Grafton.
On 16th October 2014 John Spencer-Churchill 11th Duke of Marlborough [aged 88] died. His son James [aged 58] succeeded 12th Duke Marlborough, 12th Marquess of Blandford, 12th Earl of Marlborough, 12th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 14th Earl of Sunderland, 16th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 20th November 2014 María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart 18th Duchess of Alba 11th Duke of Berwick [aged 88] died. Her son Carlos [aged 66] succeeded 19th Duke Alba, 17th Duke Veragua, 12th Duke of Jérica, 12th Duke of Liria, 12th Duke Berwick.
On 31st December 2014 Arthur Valerian Wellesley 8th Duke Wellington [aged 99] died at his home Stratfield Saye House [Map]. His son Arthur [aged 69] succeeded 9th Duke Wellington, 13th Earl Mornington, 13th Viscount Wellesley of Dangan Castle, 9th Viscount Wellington of Talavera.
On 9th August 2016 Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor 6th Duke Westminster [aged 64] died. His son Hugh [aged 25] succeeded 7th Duke Westminster, 9th Marquess Westminster, 10th Earl Grosvenor, 16th Baronet Grosvenor of Eaton in Cheshire.
On 1st September 2017 Charles Gordon-Lennox 10th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 5th Duke of Gordon [aged 87] died. His son Charles [aged 62] succeeded 11th Duke Richmond, 6th Duke Gordon, 11th Earl March, 11th Baron Settrington. Janet Elizabeth Astor Duchess of Richmond and Gordon [aged 55] by marriage Duchess Richmond, Duchess Gordon.
On 16th August 2018 David Fitzroy 11th Duke Beaufort [aged 90] died. His son Henry [aged 66] succeeded 12th Duke Beaufort, 14th Marquess Worcester, 18th Earl Worcester, 20th Baron Herbert of Raglan. Georgia Powell Duchess of Beaufort [aged 49] by marriage Duchess Beaufort.