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On this Day in History ... 27th July

27 Jul is in July.

1054 Battle of Dunsinane

1128 Death of William Clito

1214 Battle of Bouvines

1302 Battle of Roslyn

1453 Neville Percy Feud

1469 Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury

1528 Sweating Sickness Outbreak

1603 Coronation of James I

1665 Great Plague of London

1666 St James' Day Battle

1689 Battle of Killiecrankie

1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade

1809 Battle of Talavera

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 27th July

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 27 Jul 1054. This year went Earl Siward (age 44) with a large army against Scotland, consisting both of marines and landforces; and engaging with the Scots, he put to flight the King Macbeth (age 49); slew all the best in the land; and led thence much spoil, such as no man before obtained. Many fell also on his side, both Danish and English; even his own son, Osborn, and his sister's son, Sihward: and many of his house-carls, and also of the king's, were there slain that day, which was that of the Seven Sleepers.

John of Worcester. 27 Jul 1054. Siward (age 44), the stout earl of Northumbria, by order of the king (age 51) entered Scotland, with a large body of cavalry and a powerful fleet, and fought a battle with Macbeth (age 49), king of the Scots, in which the king was defeated with the loss of many thousands both of the Scots and of the Normans before mentioned; he then, as the king had commanded, raised to the throne Malcolm (age 23), son of the king of the Cumbrians. However, his own son and many English and Danes fell in that battle.

Florence of Worcester. 27 Jul 1128. William (age 25), count of Flanders, surnamed The Sad, falling into an ambush, was wounded by his enemies, and, his sufferings increasing, died, amidst universal lamentations, on the sixth of the calends of August [27th July], and was buried at St. Bertin.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 27 Jul 1128. All this year was the King Henry (age 60) in Normandy, on account of the hostility that was between him and his nephew (age 25), the Earl of Flanders. But the earl was wounded in a fight by a swain; and so wounded he went to the monastery of St. Bertin; where he soon became a monk, lived five days afterwards, then died, and was there buried. God honour his soul. That was on the sixth day before the calends of August.

On 27 Jul 1214 the last battle of the Anglo-French War of 1213-1214. Philip Augustus II King France 1165-1223's army defeated the combined forces of England, Flanders and the Holy Roman Empire. Thomas St Valery (age 59) fought at Bouvines during the Battle of Bouvines.

On 27 Jul 1276 James I King Aragon (age 68) died. His son Peter III King Aragon (age 36) succeeded III King Aragon.

John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation Book 4 Chapter 107. On the 27th of July 1302, [Note. The date here confusing since the Battle of Roslyn is reported to have taken place on 24 Feb 1303] took place the great and famous engagement between the Scots and English, at Roslyn [Map], where the English were defeated, though with great difficulty. From the beginning of the first war which ever broke out between the Scots and English, it is said, there never was so desperate a struggle, or one in which the stoutness of knightly prowess shone forth so brightly. The commander and leader in this struggle was John Comyn (age 33), the son. Now this was how this struggle came about, and the manner thereof. After the battle fought at Falkirk, the king of England (age 63) came not in person, for the nonce, this side of the water of Forth; but sent a good large force, which plundered the whole land of Fife, with all the lands lying near the town of Perth [Map], after having killed a great many of the dwellers in those lands. On the return of this force, with countless spoils, that king hied him home again with his host. Now this was brought about, doubtless, by God's agency: for had he made a lengthened stay then, or after the battle of Dunbar and the seizure of King John (age 53), he would either have subjugated the whole land of Scotland, and the dwellers therein, to his sway, or made it a waste with naught but floods and stones. But the goodness of God, Who alone tends and heals after wounds, so governed the actions and time of that king, that, being stirred up to battle, and engrossed with sundry wars, he could not put off all other matters, and give himself up to subduing this kingdom. So that king of England went back with his men, having first appointed the officers of the sheriffdoms, and the wardens of the castles, in the districts beyond the water of Forth, which were then fully and wholly subject unto his sway - with the exception of a few outlaws (or, indeed, robbers), of Scottish birth, who were lurking in the woods, and could not, because of their misdeeds, submit to the laws. But John Comyn, then guardian of Scotland, and Simon Eraser, with their followers, day and night did their best to harass and annoy, by their great prowess, the aforesaid king's officers and bailiffs; and from the time of that king's departure, for four years and more, the English and the Anglicized Scots were harried by them, in manifold ways, by mutual slaughter and carnage, according to the issue of various wars.

On 27 Jul 1420 Holy Roman Emper Sigismund (age 52) was crowned I King Bohemia at Prague.

by 27 Jul 1453, says Griffiths, the situation in the north had deteriorated so badly that the crown effectively abrogated its authority in the region, by writing directly to the two earls [Note Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 60) and Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 53)], laying responsibility for ending the dispute on them, and instructing them to keep their sons in order. It was at this point too, that the commission of oyer and terminer of 12 July was re-issued.

On 27 Jul 1469 William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46) was executed following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury the day before. His son William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 2nd Baron Herbert of Raglan. Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 13) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

His brother Richard Herbert (age 46) was also beheaded on the same day.

On 27 Jul 1473 Archbishop Lawrence Booth (age 53) was appointed Lord Chancellor serving until May 1474.

Letters and Papers 1528. 27 Jul 1528. R. O. 4560. John Chekyng To Cromwell.

His son Gregory (age 8) is not now at Cambridge, but in the country, where he works and plays alternately. He is rather slow, but diligent. He had been badly tutored, and could hardly conjugate three verbs when committed to Chekyng's care, though he repeated the rules by rote. If this is Palgrave's style of teaching, does not believe he will ever make a scholar. Will have to unteach him nearly all he has learned. He is now studying the things most conducive to the reading of authors, and spends the rest of the day in forming letters. The plague, happily, is abating. Pembroke Hall, 27 July.

Hol., Lat., pp. 2. Add.: Clarissimo viro et domino suo optimo, D. Crumwello in ædibus Remi (Wolsey). Ex Cantabrigia.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 27 Jul 1553. The xxvij day of July the duke of Suffoke (age 36), maister [Cheke] (age 39) the kynges scolmaster, maister Coke, (and) ser John Yorke (age 43), to the Towre [Map].

Note. Sir John Yorke had been under-treasurer of the mint. Together with other officers of the same he had a pardon for all manner of trangressions, &c. July 21, 1552. (Strype.)

On 27 Jul 1555 Marie Habsburg Spain was born to Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor (age 27) and Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 27). Coefficient of inbreeding 10.03%.

On 27 Jul 1571 Francis Shirley (age 56) died at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map]. He was buried in the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. Elizabethan Period. Chest with Weepers holding Shields. Helm with Folds. Richard and Gabriel Royley of Burton upon Trent.

Francis Shirley: Francis Shirley and Dorothy Giffard were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years; she, unusually, being older than him. Around 26 Jan 1515 he was born to Ralph Shirley at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire.

On 27 Jul 1578 Bishop Richard Howand (age 37), in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, waited on the Queen (age 44) on her visit to Audley End House, Saffron Walden [Map], and presented her with a Greek Testament and a pair of gloves, making a suitable oration.

On 25 Jul 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 37) was crowned I King England Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Charles Howard 1st Earl Nottingham (age 67) was appointed Lord High Steward.

On 26 Jul 1603 Thomas Bennett (age 60) and Thomas Cambell (age 67) were knighted.

On 27 Jul 1603 William Wrey 1st Baronet was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].

On 30 Jul 1603 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].

Bishop Thomas Bilson (age 56) gave the sermon. While the wording conceded something to the divine right of kings, it also included a caveat about lawful resistance to a monarch.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1619. 27 Jul 1619. The 27th about this time my Lady Bedford (age 39) had the smallpox and had them in that extremity that she lost one of her eyes. About this time my Coz. Cilifford’s wife was brought to bed at Lanesboro of a son, which lived not seven hours and was christened Francis and was buried there. The same day Lord Rutland and Lady Kath. Manners came and dined here from the Wells and in the evening went to London.

Note. This Sunday my Coz. Oldworth was true and shewed those remembrances me which are to be set up at Cheyneys for my Great Grand Father of Bedford and my Grand Father of Bedford and my Aunt Warwick. About this time my Lady Law was married to Secretary Maunton.

All this Summer Lady Penniston (age 24) was at the Wells near Tunbridge drinking the waters. This coming hither of Lady Penniston's was much talked of abroad and my Lord (age 30) was condemned for it.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1661. From thence to Westminster Hall [Map], where it was expected that the Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three months, but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu (age 38), and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye [Map], and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my Lord Chancellor (age 52) is much envied, and that many great men, such as the Duke of Buckingham (age 33) and my Lord of Bristoll (age 48), do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not in the way of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can answer him in his pleasures), yet cannot be without him, for his policy and service.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1662. Lord's Day. At church alone in the pew in the morning. In the afternoon by water I carried my wife to Westminster, where she went to take leave of her father1, and I to walk in the Park, which is now every day more and more pleasant, by the new works upon it. Here meeting with Laud Crispe, I took him to the farther end, and sat under a tree in a corner, and there sung some songs, he singing well, but no skill, and so would sing false sometimes.

Note 1. Mrs. Pepys's father was Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, a scion of a good family in Anjou. Having turned Huguenot at the age of twenty-one, his father disinherited him, and he was left penniless. He came over in the retinue of Henrietta Maria (age 52), on her marriage with Charles I, as one of her Majesty's gentlemen carvers, but the Queen dismissed him on finding out he was a Protestant and did not go to mass. He described himself as being captain and major of English troops in Italy and Flanders.-Wheatley's Pepys and the World he lived in, pp. 6, 250. He was full of schemes; see September 22nd, 1663, for account of his patent for curing smoky chimneys.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1663. So to White Hall and by water to the Bridge [Map], and so home to bed, weary and well pleased with my journey in all respects. Only it cost me about 20s., but it was for my health, and I hope will prove so, only I do find by my riding a little swelling to rise just by my anus. I had the same the last time I rode, and then it fell again, and now it is up again about the bigness of the bag of a silkworm, makes me fearful of a rupture. But I will speak to Mr. Hollyard (age 54) about it, and I am glad to find it now, that I may prevent it before it goes too far.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1663. So he concluded, that for the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to make this a Session, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next. His speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke with any; but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many times his words though he read all which I was sorry to see, it having not been hard for him to have got all the speech without book. So they all went away, the King (age 33) out of the House at the upper end, he being by and by to go to Tunbridge [Map] to the Queen (age 24); and I in the Painted Chamber [Map] spoke with my Lord Sandwich (age 38) while he was putting off his robes, who tells me he will now hasten down into the country, as soon as he can get some money settled on the Wardrobe.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1665. Thence, with mighty pleasure, with Sir G. Carteret (age 55) by coach, with great discourse of kindnesse with him to my Lord Sandwich (age 40), and to me also; and I every day see more good by the alliance.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1665. At home met the weekly Bill, where above 1000 encreased in the Bill, and of them, in all about 1,700 of the plague, which hath made the officers this day resolve of sitting at Deptford, Kent [Map], which puts me to some consideration what to do.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1665. So dispatched all my business, having assurance of continuance of all hearty love from Sir W. Coventry (age 37), and so we staid and saw the King (age 35) and Queene (age 55) set out toward Salisbury, and after them the Duke (age 31) and Duchesse (age 28), whose hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty ladies dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not become.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1666. He gone, I away by water from the Old Swan [Map] to White Hall. The waterman tells me that newes is come that our ship Resolution is burnt, and that we had sunke four or five of the enemy's ships. When I come to White Hall I met with Creed, and he tells me the same news, and walking with him to the Park I to Sir W. Coventry's (age 38) lodging, and there he showed me Captain Talbot's letter, wherein he says that the fight begun on the 25th; that our White squadron begun with one of the Dutch squadrons, and then the Red with another so hot that we put them both to giving way, and so they continued in pursuit all the day, and as long as he stayed with them: that the Blue fell to the Zealand squadron; and after a long dispute, he against two or three great ships, he received eight or nine dangerous shots, and so come away; and says, he saw The Resolution burned by one of their fire-ships, and four or five of the enemy's. But says that two or three of our great ships were in danger of being fired by our owne fire-ships, which Sir W. Coventry, nor I, cannot understand. But upon the whole, he and I walked two or three turns in the Parke under the great trees, and do doubt that this gallant is come away a little too soon, having lost never a mast nor sayle. And then we did begin to discourse of the young gentlemen captains, which he was very free with me in speaking his mind of the unruliness of them; and what a losse the King (age 36) hath of his old men, and now of this Hannam, of The Resolution, if he be dead, and that there is but few old sober men in the fleete, and if these few of the Flags that are so should die, he fears some other gentlemen captains will get in, and then what a council we shall have, God knows. He told me how he is disturbed to hear the commanders at sea called cowards here on shore, and that he was yesterday concerned publiquely at a dinner to defend them, against somebody that said that not above twenty of them fought as they should do, and indeed it is derived from the Duke of Albemarle (age 57) himself, who wrote so to the King and Duke (age 32), and that he told them how they fought four days, two of them with great disadvantage. The Count de Guiche, who was on board De Ruyter (age 59), writing his narrative home in French of the fight, do lay all the honour that may be upon the English courage above the Dutch, and that he himself [Sir W. Coventry] was sent down from the King and Duke of Yorke after the fight, to pray them to spare none that they thought had not done their parts, and that they had removed but four, whereof Du Tell is one, of whom he would say nothing; but, it seems, the Duke of Yorke hath been much displeased at his removal, and hath now taken him into his service, which is a plain affront to the Duke of Albemarle; and two of the others, Sir W. Coventry did speake very slenderly of their faults. Only the last, which was old Teddiman, he says, is in fault, and hath little to excuse himself with; and that, therefore, we should not be forward in condemning men of want of courage, when the Generalls, who are both men of metal, and hate cowards, and had the sense of our ill successe upon them (and by the way must either let the world thinke it was the miscarriage of the Captains or their owne conduct), have thought fit to remove no more of them, when desired by the King and Duke of Yorke to do it, without respect to any favour any of them can pretend to in either of them.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1667. He tells me that the King (age 37) and Court were never in the world so bad as they are now for gaming, swearing, whoring, and drinking, and the most abominable vices that ever were in the world; so that all must come to nought. He told me that Sir G. Carteret (age 57) was at this end of the town; so I went to visit him in Broad Street; and there he and I together: and he is mightily pleased with my Lady Jem's having a son; and a mighty glad man he is. He [Sir George Carteret] tells me, as to news, that the peace is now confirmed, and all that over. He says it was a very unhappy motion in the House the other day about the land-army; for, whether the King hath a mind of his own to do the thing desired or no, his doing it will be looked upon as a thing done only in fear of the Parliament. He says that the Duke of York (age 33) is suspected to be the great man that is for raising of this army, and bringing things to be commanded by an army; but he believes that he is wronged, and says that he do know that he is wronged therein. He do say that the Court is in a way to ruin all for their pleasures; and says that he himself hath once taken the liberty to tell the King the necessity of having, at least, a show of religion in the Government, and sobriety; and that it was that, that did set up and keep up Oliver, though he was the greatest rogue in the world, and that it is so fixed in the nature of the common Englishman that it will not out of him. He tells me that while all should be labouring to settle the Kingdom, they are at Court all in factions, some for and others against my Chancellor (age 58), and another for and against another man, and the King adheres to no man, but this day delivers himself up to this, and the next to that, to the ruin of himself and business; that he is at the command of any woman like a slave, though he be the best man to the Queene (age 57) in the world, with so much respect, and never lies a night from her: but yet cannot command himself in the presence of a woman he likes. Having had this discourse, I parted, and home to dinner, and thence to the office all the afternoon to my great content very busy. It raining this day all day to our great joy, it having not rained, I think, this month before, so as the ground was everywhere so burned and dry as could be; and no travelling in the road or streets in London, for dust. At night late home to supper and to bed.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1667. At the office all the morning; and at noon to the 'Change [Map], where I met Fenn; and he tells me that Sir John Coventry (age 31) do bring the confirmation of the peace; but I do not find the 'Change [Map] at all glad of it, but rather the worse, they looking upon it as a peace made only to preserve the King (age 37) for a time in his lusts and ease, and to sacrifice trade and his kingdoms only to his own pleasures: so that the hearts of merchants are quite down. He tells me that the King and my Baroness Castlemayne (age 26) are quite broke off, and she is gone away, and is with child, and swears the King shall own it; and she will have it christened in the Chapel at White Hall so, and owned for the King's, as other Kings have done; or she will bring it into White Hall gallery, and dash the brains of it out before the King's face1.

Note 1. Charles owned only four children by Baroness Castlemaine's - Anne, Countess of Sussex (age 6), and the Dukes of Southampton (age 5), Grafton (age 3), and Northumberland (age 1). The last of these was born in 1665. The paternity of all her other children was certainly doubtful. See pp. 50,52.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27 Jul 1668. Thence to Cooper's (age 59), where my wife's picture almost done, and mighty fine indeed. So over the water with my wife, and Deb., and Mercer, to Spring-Garden, and there eat and walked; and observe how rude some of the young gallants of the town are become, to go into people's arbours where there are not men, and almost force the women; which troubled me, to see the confidence of the vice of the age: and so we away by water, with much pleasure home. This day my plate-maker comes with my four little plates of the four Yards, cost me £5, which troubles me, but yet do please me also.

On 27 Jul 1689 James Seton 4th Earl Dunfermline (age 46) fought at Killiecrankie during the Battle of Killiecrankie.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. Our beauties are travelling Paris-ward: Lady Caroline Petersham (age 30) and Lady Coventry (age 19) are just gone thither. It will scarce be possible for the latter to make as much noise there as she and her sister (age 18) have in England. It is literally true that a shoemaker in Worcester got two guineas and a half by showing a shoo that he was making for the Countess, at a penny a piece. I can't say her genius is equal to her beauty: she every day says some new sproposito [Note. blunder]. She has taken a turn of vast fondness for her lord (age 30): Lord Downe (age 25) met them at Calais, and offered her a tent-bed, for fear of bugs in the inns. "Oh!" said she, "I had rather be bit to death, than lie one night from my dear Cov.!" I can conceive my Lady Caroline making a good deal of noise even at Paris; her beauty is set off by a genius for the extraordinary, and for strokes that will make a figure in any country. Mr. Churchill (age 38) and my sister (age 14) [Note. Half-sister] are just arrived from France; you know my passion for the writing of the younger Crebillon (age 45)324 you shall hear how I have been mortified by the discovery of the greatest meanness in him; and you will judge how much one must be humbled to have one's favourite author convicted of mere mercenariness! I had desired Lady Mary to lay out thirty guineas for me with Liotard (age 49), and wished, if I could, to have the portraits of Crebillon and Marivaux (age 64)325 for my cabinet. Mr. Churchill wrote me word that Liotard's326 price was sixteen guineas; that Marivaux was intimate with him, and would certainly sit, and that he believed he could get Crebillon to sit too. The latter, who is retired into the provinces with an English wife (age 40)327, was just then at Paris for a month: Mr. Churchill went to him, told him that a gentleman in England, who was making a collection of portraits of famous people, would be happy to have his, etc. Crebillon was humble, "unworthy," obliged; and sat: the picture was just finished, when, behold! he sent Mr. Churchill word, that he expected to have a copy of the picture given him-neither more nor less than asking sixteen guineas for sitting! Mr. Churchill answered that he could not tell what he should do, were it his own case, but that this was a limited commission, and he could not possibly lay out double; and was now so near his return, that he could not have time to write to England and receive an answer. Crebillon said, then he would keep the picture himself-it was excessively like. I am still sentimental enough to flatter myself, that a man who could beg sixteen gineas will not give them, and so I may still have the picture.

Note 324. Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crebillon, son of the tragic poet of that name, and author of many licentious novels, which are now but little read. He was born in 1707, and died in 1777.-D. ["The taste for his writings," says the Edinburgh Reviewers, "passed away very rapidly and completely in France; and long before his death, the author of the Sopha, and Les Egaremens du Coeur et de l'Esprit, had the mortification to be utterly forgotten by the public." Vol. xxi. p. 284.]

Note 325. Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, the author of numerous plays and novels, some of which possess considerable merit. The peculiar affectation of his style occasioned the invention of the word marivaudage, to express the way of writing of him and his imitators. He was born in 1688, and died in 1763.-D.

Note 326. Walpole, in his Anecdotes of Painting, states Liotard to have been an admirable miniature and enamel painter. At Rome he was taken notice of by the Earl of Sandwich, and by Lord Besborough, then Lord Duncannon. See Museum Florentinum, vol. x.; where the name of the last mentioned nobleman is spelled Milord D'un Canon.-E.

Note 327. She was a Miss Strafford. The perusal of Crebillon's works inspired her with such a passion for the author, that she ran away from her friends, went to Paris, married him, and nursed and attended him with exemplary tenderness and affection to his dying day. In reference to this marriage, Lord Byron, in his Observations on Bowles's Strictures upon Pope, makes the following remark:-"For my own part, I am of the opinion of Pausanias, that success in love depends upon fortune. Grimm has an observation of the same kind, on the different destinies of the younger Crebillon and Rousseau. The former writes a licentious novel, and a young English girl of some fortune runs away, and crosses the sea to marry him; while Rousseau, the most tender and passionate of lovers, is obliged to espouse his chambermaid."-E.

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Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. I am going to trouble you with a commission, my dear Sir, that will not subject me to any such humiliations. You may have heard that I am always piddling about ornaments and improvements for Strawberry Hill-I am now doing a great deal to the house-stay, I don't want Genoa damask!328 What I shall trouble you to buy is for the garden: there is a small recess, for which I should be glad to have an antique Roman sepulchral altar, of the kind of the pedestal to my eagle; but as it will stand out of doors, I should not desire to have it a fine one: a moderate one, I imagine, might be picked up easily at Rome at a moderate price: if you could order any body to buy such an one, I should be much obliged to you.

We have had an article in our papers that the Empress-queen (age 35) had desired the King of France (age 42) to let her have Mesdames de Craon (age 66) and de la Calmette, ladies of great piety and birth, to form an academy for the young Archduchesses-is there any truth in this? is the Princess to triumph thus at last over Richcourt? I should be glad. What a comical genealogy in education! The mistress and mother of twenty children to Duke Leopold, being the pious tutoress to his grand-daughters! How the old Duchess of Lorrain will shiver in her coffin at the thoughts of it? Who is la Calmette? Adieu! my dear child! You see my spirit of justice: when I have not writ to you for two months, I punish you with a reparation of six pages!-had not I better write one line every fortnight?

Note 328. Lord Cholmondoley (age 49) borrowed great sums of money of various people, under the pretence of a quantity of Genoa damask being arrived for him, and that his banker was out of town, and he must pay for it immediately. Four persons comparing notes, produced four letters from him in a coffeehouse, in the very same words.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. Your painter Astley (age 28) is arrived: I have missed seeing him by being constantly at Strawberry Hill, but I intend to serve him to the utmost of my power, as you will easily believe, since he has your recommendation.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. There are great civil wars in the neighbourhood of Strawberry Hill: Princess Emily (age 41), who succeeded my brother in the rangership of Richmond Park, has imitated her brother William's (age 31) unpopularity, and disobliged the whole country, by refusal of tickets and liberties, that had always been allowed. They are at law with her, and have printed in the Evening Post a strong Memorial, which she had refused to receive-.322 The High Sheriff of Surrey, to whom she had denied a ticket, but on better thought had sent one, refused it, and said he had taken his part. Lord Brooke (age 32)323 who had applied for one, was told he could not have one-and to add to the affront, it was signified. that the Princess had refused one to my Lord Chancellor-your old nobility don't understand such comparisons! But the most remarkable event happened to her about three weeks ago. One Mr. Bird, a rich gentleman near the park, was applied to by the late Queen for a piece of ground that lay convenient for a walk she was making: he replied, it was not proper for him to pretend to make a Queen a present; but if she would do what she pleased with the ground, he would be content with the acknowledgment of a key and two bucks a-year. This was religiously observed till the era of her Royal Highness's reign; the bucks were denied, and he himself once shut out, on pretence it was fence-month (the breeding-time, when tickets used to be excluded, keys never.) The Princess soon after was going through his grounds to town; she found a padlock on his gate; she ordered it to be broke open: Mr. Shaw, her deputy, begged a respite, till he could go for the key. He found Mr. Bird at home-"Lord, Sir! here is a strange mistake; the Princess is at the gate, and it is padlocked!" "Mistake! no mistake at all - I made the road: the ground is my own property: her Royal Highness has thought fit to break the agreement which her Royal Mother made with me: nobody goes through my grounds but those I choose should. Translate this to your Florentinese; try if you can make them conceive how pleasant it is to treat blood royal thus!

There are dissensions of more consequence in the same neighbourhood. The tutorhood at Kew is split into factions: the Bishop of Norwich (age 50) and Lord Harcourt (age 38) openly at war with Stone (age 49) and Scott, who are supported by Cresset (age 38), and countenanced by the Princess and Murray-so my Lord Bolinbroke dead, will govern, which he never could living! It is believed that the Bishop will be banished into the rich bishopric of Durham, which is just vacant-how pleasant to be punished, after teaching the boys a year, with as much as he could have got if he had taught them twenty! Will they ever expect a peaceable prelate, if untractableness is thus punished?

Note 322. The memorial will be found in the Gentleman's Magazine for this year. In December the park was opened by the King's order.-E.

Note 323. Francis Greville, Earl Brooke.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. Arlington Street. To Horace Mann 1st Baronet (age 45).

What will you say to me after a silence of two months? I should be ashamed, if I were answerable for the whole world, who will do nothing worth repeating. Newspapers have horse-races, and can invent casualties, but I can't have the confidence to stuff a letter with either. The only casualty that is of dignity enough to send you, is a great fire at Lincoln's Inn, which is likely to afford new work for the lawyers, in consequence of the number of deeds and writings it has consumed. The Duke of Kingston (age 63) has lost many of his: he is unlucky with fires: Thoresby, his seat, was burnt a few years ago, and in it a whole room of valuable letters and manuscripts. There has been a Very considerable loss of that kind at this fire: Mr. Yorke, the Chancellor's son, had a great collection of Lord Somers's papers, many relating to the assassination plot; and by which, I am told, it appeared that the Duke of Marlborough was deep in the schemes of St. Germain's [Meaning the court of the exiled James II].

On 27 Jul 1789 Oswald Mosley (age 28) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Rolleston on Dove [Map].

Oswald Mosley: On 17 Mar 1761 he was born to John Parker Mosley 1st Baronet. On 03 Feb 1784 Oswald Mosley and Elizabeth Tonman were married at St Oswald's, Chester. They had four children between 1785 and 1789.

On 25 Mar 1807 the Slave Trade Act received Royal Assent. The Act prohibited the slave trade in the British Empire. The Bill was first introduced to Parliament in January 1807. It went to the House of Commons on 10 Feb 1807. After a debate lasting ten hours, the House agreed to the second reading of the bill to abolish the Atlantic slave trade by an overwhelming 283 votes for to 16. The Act took effect on 01 May 1807.

The last legal slave voyage was that of Kitty's Amelia which sailed on 27 Jul 1807 having received permission to sail on 27 Apr 1807 before the Act came into force. Kitty's Amelia arrived with 233 slaves at Jamaica 25 Jan 1808.

On 27 Jul 1809 Edward Methuen Irby (age 21) was killed at the Battle of Talavera.

Between 27 Jul 1809 and 28 Jul 1809 the Battle of Talavera, part of the Peninsular War, was fought between an Anglo Spanish army commanded by Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington (age 40) against the French. The French army withdrew at night after several of its attacks had been repulsed. Following the battle Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington was created 1st Viscount Wellington of Talavera.

Hugh Gough 1st Viscount Gough (age 29) commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot.

General Henry Fane (age 30) commanded the 3rd Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards, 4th Queen's Own Dragoons.

Charles Henry Farrington 2nd Baronet (age 14) fought.

Greville Memoirs. 27 Jul 1830. I have been employed in settling half a dozen disputes of different sorts, but generally without success, trifling matters, foolish or violent people, not worth remembering any of them. The Chancellor, who does not know his own business, has made an attack on my office about the proclamations, but I have vindicated it in a letter to Lord Bathurst (age 68).

On 27 Jul 1888 Oskar Hohenzollern was born to Wilhelm Hohenzollern (age 29) and Empress Auguste Viktoria Oldenburg (age 29). He a great grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

On 29 Apr 1890 Hermit (age 26) died at Blankney Hall. His skeleton was given to the Royal College of Vetinary Surgeons. A hoof was presented to the Prince of Wales who had it fashioned into an ink-stand, writing:

Marlborough House,

July 27/90.

My Dear Harry (age 49) — How kind of you to have sent me the hoof of dear old ! so prettily mounted, which I shall always greatly value and constantly use as an inkstand.

I am also very much touched by the kind expressions in your letter wishing me good luck with my racehorses. Though I can never expect to have the good fortune which attended the Dukes of Portland and Westminster, still I hope with patience to win one or more of the classic races with a horse bred by myself. I sincerely hope you may yet be able to come to Goodwood for a part of the time, at any rate.

Thanking you again for your kind remembrance of me and giving me so interesting a souvenir of your "best friend"

From yours very sincerely,

Albert Edward (age 48).

P.S.—I shall always take the shoe about with me.

Click to read complete text ...

Births on the 27th July

On 27 Jul 1555 Marie Habsburg Spain was born to Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor (age 27) and Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 27). Coefficient of inbreeding 10.03%.

On 27 Jul 1578 Frances Howard Duchess Lennox and Richmond was born to Thomas Howard 1st Viscount Howard Bindon (age 58) and Mabel Burton Viscountess Howard Bindon (age 38) at Lychett, Dorset.

On 27 Jul 1625 Edward Montagu 1st Earl Sandwich was born to Sidney Montagu (age 44) and Paulina Pepys (age 43).

On 27 Jul 1690 Charles Tracy 5th Viscount Tracy was born to William Tracy 4th Viscount Tracy (age 33) and Jane Leigh Viscountess Tracy (age 25). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.26%.

On 27 Jul 1697 Bishop Isaac Maddox was born to Edward Maddox of London.

On 27 Jul 1705 John Eliott 4th Baronet was born to Gilbert Eliott 3rd Baronet (age 25).

On 27 Jul 1725 Charles Egerton was born to Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater (age 43) and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater (age 18).

On 27 Jul 1753 John Courtenay Throckmorton 5th Baronet was born to George Throckmorton (age 32).

On 27 Jul 1766 William Henry Vane 1st Duke Cleveland was born to Henry Vane 2nd Earl Darlington (age 39) and Margaret Lowther Countess Darlington (age 38). He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 27 Jul 1777 Thomas Campbell was born on High Street Glasgow.

On 27 Jul 1777 General Henry Otway Trevor 21st Baron Dacre 20th Baron Multon was born to Thomas Brand Baron Dacre (age 27) and Gertrude Trevor Roper 19th Baroness Dacre of Gilsland (age 26). He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 27 Jul 1812 James Alexander 3rd Earl Caledon was born to Du Pre Alexander 2nd Earl Caledon (age 34) and Catherine Yorke Countess Caledon (age 26).

On 27 Jul 1813 Claud Hamilton was born to James Hamilton (age 26) and Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen (age 21).

On 27 Jul 1828 Courtenay John Vernon was born to Robert Smith aka Vernon 1st Baron Lyveden (age 28) and Emma Mary Fitzpatrick Baroness Lyveden (age 20). Coefficient of inbreeding 3.13%.

On 27 Jul 1845 Sophia Strutt Lady Le Marchant was born to Edward Strutt 1st Baron Belper (age 43) and Amelia Harriet Otter Baroness Belper (age 28).

On 27 Jul 1852 Edward Onslow Ford was born to Edward Ford and Martha Lydia Gardner.

On 27 Jul 1862 Henry Alfred Pegram was born.

On 27 Jul 1888 Oskar Hohenzollern was born to Wilhelm Hohenzollern (age 29) and Empress Auguste Viktoria Oldenburg (age 29). He a great grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

On 27 Jul 1896 Roger Lumley 11th Earl of Scarbrough was born to Osbert Victor George Atheling Lumley (age 38) and Constance Ellinor Wilson-Patten (age 24).

On 27 Jul 1896 Bridget Helen "Biddy" Ruthven Countess Carlisle was born to Walter Hore Ruthven 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland (age 26) and Jean Leslie Lampson.

On 27 Jul 1905 Beatrice Helen Beckett was born to William Gervase Beckett 1st Baronet (age 39) and Mabel Theresa Duncombe (age 26). Coefficient of inbreeding 3.32%.

On 27 Jul 1917 John Stanier Waller 7th Baronet was born to Stanier Edmund William Waller (age 35).

Marriages on the 27th July

On 27 Jul 1411 Richard Beauchamp 1st Earl of Worcester (age 15) and Isabel Despencer Countess Warwick and Worcester (age 11) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Despencer 1st Earl Gloucester and Constance York Countess Gloucester (age 37). They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

After 27 Jul 1511 Alexander Gordon 3rd Earl Huntley and Elizabeth Gray Countess Huntley and Rothes (age 46) were married. She by marriage Countess Huntley. He the son of George Gordon 2nd Earl Huntley. They were third cousins.

Before 27 Jul 1619 Henry Felton 1st Baronet and Dorothy Bacon (age 42) were married.

On 27 Jul 1698 Thomas Powell 1st Baronet (age 33) and Judith Herbert Lady Powell were married. She by marriage Lady Powell of Broadway in Carmarthenshire.

On 27 Jul 1712 Henry Oxenden 4th Baronet (age 22) and Anne Holloway Lady Oxenden were married. She by marriage Lady Oxenden of Dene in Kent.

On 27 Jul 1721 Thomas L'Estrange 5th Baronet (age 32) and Anne Calthorpe Lady Strange were married. They were second cousin once removed.

On 27 Jul 1724 Walter Wagstaffe Bagot 5th Baronet (age 21) and Barbara Legge Baroness Bagot (age 15) were married. She by marriage Lady Bagot of Blithfield Hall. They had eight sons and eight daughters. She the daughter of William Legge 1st Earl Dartmouth (age 51) and Anne Finch Countess Dartmouth.

Before 27 Jul 1727 Talbot Yelverton 1st Earl of Sussex (age 37) and Lucy Pelham Countess Sussex were married. She by marriage Countess of Sussex.

On 27 Jul 1742 Joseph Damer 1st Earl Dorchester (age 24) and Caroline Sackville Lady Milton were married. She the daughter of Lionel Cranfield Sackville 1st Duke Dorset (age 54) and Elizabeth Colyear Duchess Dorset (age 53).

On 27 Jul 1758 Charles Fitzroy 1st Baron Southampton (age 21) and Anne Warren Baroness Southampton (age 20) were married. He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 27 Jul 1842 John William Hamilton Anson 2nd Baronet (age 25) and Elizabeth Catherine Pack Lady Anson (age 21) were married.

On 27 Jul 1858 Nelson Rycroft 4th Baronet (age 27) and Juliana Ogilvy Lady Rycroft were married.

On 27 Jul 1858 Augustus Frederick Bampfylde 2nd Baron Poltimore (age 21) and Florence Sarah Wilhelmine Sheridan Baroness Poltimore were married.

On 27 Jul 1889 Alexander Duff 1st Duke Fife (age 39) and Louise Windsor Duchess Fife (age 22) were married. She the daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (age 47) and Alexandra Glücksburg Queen Consort England (age 44). He the son of James Duff 5th Earl Fife and Agnes Georgiana Elizabeth Hay Countess Fife. They were half third cousins. He a great grandson of King William IV of the United Kingdom.

On 27 Jul 1927 Charles Edward Hill-Trevor 3rd Baron Trevor (age 63) and Phyllis May Sims Baroness Trevor (age 24) were married. She by marriage Baroness Trevor of Brynkinalt in Denbighshire. The difference in their ages was 39 years.

On 27 Jul 1934 Victor Montagu 10th Earl Sandwich (age 28) and Maud Rosemary Peto (age 18) were married. He the son of George Charles Montagu 9th Earl Sandwich (age 59) and Alberta Sturges Countess Sandwich (age 56).

Deaths on the 27th July

On 27 Jul 1101 Hugh "Wolf Fat" Avranches 1st Earl Chester (age 54) died.

Florence of Worcester. 27 Jul 1128. William (age 25), count of Flanders, surnamed The Sad, falling into an ambush, was wounded by his enemies, and, his sufferings increasing, died, amidst universal lamentations, on the sixth of the calends of August [27th July], and was buried at St. Bertin.

On 27 Jul 1276 James I King Aragon (age 68) died. His son Peter III King Aragon (age 36) succeeded III King Aragon.

On 27 Jul 1365 Rudolph Habsburg IV Duke Austria (age 25) died. His brother Frederick Habsburg III Duke Austria succeeded III Duke Austria.

On 27 Jul 1382 John Saye 4th Baron Say (age 9) died. His sister Elizabeth Saye 5th Baroness Say (age 15) succeeded 5th Baroness Say.

On 27 Jul 1398 John la Warr 4th Baron de la Warr (age 54) died without issue. His brother Thomas la Warr 5th Baron de la Warr (age 46) succeeded 5th Baron De La Warr.

On 27 Jul 1469 William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46) was executed following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury the day before. His son William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 2nd Baron Herbert of Raglan. Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 13) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

His brother Richard Herbert (age 46) was also beheaded on the same day.

On 27 Jul 1485 Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland (age 27) died.

On 27 Jul 1578 Jane Fitzalan Baroness Lumley (age 41) died. She was buried at Lumley Chapel Cheam, Surrey.

On 27 Jul 1622 Thomas Knyvet 1st Baron Knyvet (age 77) died. He was buried at Stanwell Church Stanwell, Surrey. Baron Knyvet of Escrick extinct.

On 27 Jul 1679 Thomas Leventhorpe 4th Baronet (age 43) died at Elvaston [Map] having been kicked by a horse. His uncle Charles Leventhorpe 5th Baronet (age 84) succeeded 5th Baronet Leventhorpe of Shingey Hall in Hertfordshire.

On 27 Jul 1721 Alice Sherard Baroness Brownlow (age 62) died.

On 27 Jul 1735 Charles Tyrrell 4th Baronet (age 10) died. His brother John Tyrrell 5th Baronet (age 7) succeeded 5th Baronet Tyrrell of Springfield.

On 27 Jul 1742 Frances Spencer Countess Carlisle (age 46) died.

On 27 Jul 1751 Charles Beauclerk 2nd Duke St Albans (age 55) died. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son George Beauclerk 3rd Duke St Albans (age 21) succeeded 3rd Duke St Albans, 3rd Earl Burford, 3rd Baron Heddington.

On 27 Jul 1768 William Dalrymple Crichton 5th Earl Dumfries 4th Earl of Stair (age 69) died. Patrick Mcdouall Crichton 6th Earl Dumfries (age 41) succeeded 6th Earl Dumfries. His first cousin John Dalrymple 5th Earl of Stair (age 48) succeeded 4th Earl of Stair.

On 27 Jul 1769 Catherine Power Countess Tyrone (age 67) died.

On 27 Jul 1804 Robert Clements 1st Earl Leitrim (age 71) died. His son Nathaniel Clements 2nd Earl Leitrim (age 36) succeeded 2nd Earl Leitrim.

On 27 Jul 1808 John Thomas Burgh 13th Earl Clanricarde (age 63) died.

On 27 Jul 1811 John Lawson 5th Baronet (age 67) died. His brother Henry Lawson 6th Baronet (age 60) succeeded 6th Baronet Lawson of Brough Hall in Yorkshire.

On 27 Jul 1817 Samuel Woodford (age 54) died.

In 1829 Jane Waldo died. Her cousin, also Jane, inherited Hever Castle, Kent [Map]. Jane died in 1841. The castle as inherited by Edmund Wakefield Meade who was connected to the Waldo family by marriage, and had adopted the Waldo surname. Meade Waldo, great grandson of Edmund, sold the castle on the 27th of July 1903 to William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor.

On 27 Jul 1831 John Toler 1st Earl of Norbury (age 85) died at his home 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin. His son Hector John Graham-Toler 2nd Earl of Norbury (age 50) succeeded 2nd Earl of Norbury, 2nd Viscount Glandine.

On 27 Jul 1842 Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh 3rd Baronet (age 65) died. His son Thomas Hesketh 4th Baronet (age 43) succeeded 4th Baronet Hesketh of Rufford in Lancashire.

On 27 Jul 1856 Selina Mary Hervey Lady Knightley died.

On 27 Jul 1866 Charlotte Herbert Duchess Northumberland (age 78) died at Twickenham, Richmond. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 27 Jul 1885 Anne Weld-Forester Countess Chesterfield (age 82) died.

On 29 Apr 1890 Hermit (age 26) died at Blankney Hall. His skeleton was given to the Royal College of Vetinary Surgeons. A hoof was presented to the Prince of Wales who had it fashioned into an ink-stand, writing:

Marlborough House,

July 27/90.

My Dear Harry (age 49) — How kind of you to have sent me the hoof of dear old ! so prettily mounted, which I shall always greatly value and constantly use as an inkstand.

I am also very much touched by the kind expressions in your letter wishing me good luck with my racehorses. Though I can never expect to have the good fortune which attended the Dukes of Portland and Westminster, still I hope with patience to win one or more of the classic races with a horse bred by myself. I sincerely hope you may yet be able to come to Goodwood for a part of the time, at any rate.

Thanking you again for your kind remembrance of me and giving me so interesting a souvenir of your "best friend"

From yours very sincerely,

Albert Edward (age 48).

P.S.—I shall always take the shoe about with me.

Click to read complete text ...

On 22 Jan 1899 William Henry Paulett 6th Earl Paulett (age 71) died. His son William John Lydston Poulett 7th Earl Poulett (age 15) succeeded 7th Earl Poulett, 10th Baron Poulett.

The sixth earl's eldest son William Turnour Thomas Poulett (age 53) claimed the title. On 27 Jul 1903 the House of Lords determined the dispute in favour of William John Lydston Poulett 7th Earl Poulett somewhat contrary to the principle that the child of a woman born in wedlock was the child of her husband.

Report made from the Committee of Privileges:

That the Petitioner, William Turnour Thomas Poulett, claiming to be Viscount Hinton of Hinton St. George and Earl Poulett, both in the Peerage of England, hath not made out his claim to the dignities, titles, and honours of Viscount Hinton of Hinton St. George and Earl Poulett.

That the Petitioner, Rosa Countess Poulett, formerly the wife and now the widow of William Henry, sixth Earl Poulett, as a testamentary guardian of her infant son William John Lydston, claiming to be Viscount Hinton of Hinton St. George, in the county of Somerset, and seventh Earl Poulett, both in the Peerage of England, hath made out her claim that the said William John Lydston Poulett should be declared to be by right entitled to the dignities, titles, and honours of Viscount Hinton of Hinton St. George and Earl Poulett.

Read, and agreed to; and resolved and adjudged accordingly; and Resolution and Judgment to be laid before His Majesty by the Lords with White Staves.

On 27 Jul 1931 Sydney Holland 2nd Viscount Knutsford (age 76) died. His brother Arthur Holland 3rd Viscount Knutsford (age 76) succeeded 3rd Viscount Knutsford of Knutsford in Cheshire, 3rd Baron Knutsford of Knutsford in Cheshire, 4th Baronet Holland of Sandlebridge. Ellen Lawson Viscountess Knutsford by marriage Viscountess Knutsford of Knutsford in Cheshire.