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On this Day in History ... 29th December

29 Dec is in December.

1170 Murder of Thomas a Becket

1680 Trial and Execution of William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford

1694 Death and Funeral of Queen Mary II

1800 Act of Union Peerages

1808 Battle of Benavente

1886 Margaret Pole Beatified

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 29th December

On 29 Dec 1158 Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 36) travelled from Normandy [Map] on board the Esnecca (Snake) with her children Henry the Young King (age 3) and Matilda Plantagenet Duchess Saxony (age 2) to Southampton, Hampshire [Map]. She then went to Winchester, Hampshire [Map] where she collected funds from the Royal Treasury and returned to Normandy.

29 Dec 1170. Thomas Becket is murdered by a group of knights; BL Add MS 38116; 'The Huth Psalter'; 1280 CE-1300 CE; England,N.; f.13r.

29 Dec 1170. Earliest known depiction of the murder of Thomas Becket. BL Cotton MS Claudius B II; Alan of Tewkesbury, Collectio Epistolarum Sancti Thome Cantuariensis; 12th c; England; f.341r.

The Life of Thomas Becket by Edward Grim. Inspired by fury the knights called out, "Where is Thomas Becket, traitor to the king and realm?" As he answered not they cried out the more furiously, "Where is the archbishop?" At this, intrepid and fearless, as it is written, "The just, like a bold lion, shall be without fear," he descended from the stair where he had been dragged by the monks in fear of the knights, and in a clear voice answered "I am here, no traitor to the king, but a priest. Why do ye seek me?" And whereas he had already said that he feared them not, he added, "So I am ready to suffer in His name, Who redeemed me by His Blood: be it far from me to flee from your swords, or to depart from justice." Having thus said, he turned to the right, under a pillar, having on one side the altar of the blessed Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary, on the other that of S. Benedict the Confessor: by whose example and prayers, having crucified the world with its lusts, he bore all that the murderer could do with such constancy of soul as if he had been no longer in the flesh. The murderers followed him; "Absolve," they cried, "and restore to communion those whom you have excommunicated, and restore their powers to those whom you have suspended." He answered: "There has been no satisfaction, and I will not absolve them." "Then you shall die," they cried, "and receive what you deserve." "I am ready," he replied, "to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace. But in the name of Almighty God, I forbid you to hurt my people whether clerk or lay." Thus piously and thoughtfully, did the noble martyr provide that no one near him should be hurt or the innocent be brought to death, whereby his glory should be dimmed as he hastened to Christ. Thus did it become the martyr-knight to follow in the footsteps of his Captain and Saviour Who when the wicked sought Him said: "If ye seek Me, let these go their way." Then they laid sacrilegious hands on him, pulling and dragging him that they might kill him outside the Church, or carry him away a prisoner, as they afterwards confessed. But when he could not be forced away from the pillar, one of them pressed on him and clung to him more closely. Him he pushed off calling him "pander," and saying, "Touch me not, Reginald; you owe me fealty and subjection; you and your accomplices act like madmen". The knight, fired with terrible rage at this severe repulse, waved his sword over the sacred head. "No faith," he cried, "nor subjection do I owe you against my fealty to my lord the king." Then the unconquered martyr seeing the hour at hand which should put an end to this miserable life and give him straightway the crown of immortality promised by the Lord, inclined his neck as one who prays and joining his hands he lifted them up, and commended his cause and that of the Church to God, to S. Mary, and to the blessed martyr Denys. Scarce had he said the words than the wicked knight fearing lest he should be rescued by the people and escape alive, leapt upon him suddenly and wounded this lamb who was sacrificed to God on the head, cutting off the top of the crown which the sacred unction of the chrism had dedicated to God; and by the same blow he wounded the arm of him who tells this. For he, when the others, both monks and clerks, fled, stuck close to the sainted archbishop and held him in his arms till the one he interposed was almost severed. Behold the simplicity of the dove, the wisdom of the serpent, in the martyr who opposed his body to those who struck that he might preserve his head, that is his soul and the Church, unharmed, nor would he use- any forethought against those who destroyed the body whereby he might escape. O worthy shepherd, who gave himself so boldly to the wolves that his flock might not be torn. Because he had rejected the world, the world in wishing to crush him unknowingly exalted him. Then he received a second blow on the head but still stood firm. At the third blow he fell on his knees and elbows, offering himself a living victim, and saying in a low voice, "For the Name of Jesus and the protection of the Church I am ready to embrace death." Then the third knight inflicted a terrible wound as he lay, by which the sword was broken against the pavement, and the crown which was large was separated from the head; so that the blood white with the brain and the brain red with blood, dyed the surface of the virgin mother Church with the life and death of the confessor and martyr in the colours of the lily and the rose. The fourth knight prevented any from interfering so that the others might freely perpetrate the murder. As to the fifth, no knight but that clerk who had entered with the knights, that a fifth blow might not be wanting to the martyr who was in other things like to Christ, he put his foot on the neck of the holy priest and precious martyr, and, horrible to say, scattered his brains and blood over the pavement, calling out to the others, "Let us away, knights; he will rise no more."

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29 Dec 1170. A bas-de-page image illustrating the murder of Thomas Becket, from the Queen Mary Psalter: England (London/Westminster or East Anglia?) between 1310 and 1320, Royal MS 2 B VII, f. 298r.

On 29 Dec 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket (age 51) was murdered at Canterbury Cathedral [Map] by four knights on behalf of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 37). Whether Henry ordered the murder, or whether the four knights were acting without orders, is a matter of conjecture. The first use of the well-known phrase "Will no-one rid me of this turbulent priest appears some five hundred and more years later in Robert Dodsley's 1740 Chronicle of the Kings of England.

The Chronicle of the Kings of England. 29 Dec 1170. Then certain of the priests and the nobles came unto the king, and complained of Becket, saying, O king! the man whom thou forgavest is now more wicked than he was before, his crimes are increased seven-fold.

Then the king waxed exceeding wrath, and his countenance changed, and be cried out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this turbulent priest?

Now this saying was heard by certain of tbe king's servants, and they went forth privily, and finding the high priest at the altar, they fell on him and slew him, and dashed out his brains at the foot of the altar, and his blood stained the holy place.

The Conquest of Ireland Chapter 20. The Martyrdom of St. Thomas

Raymond pursuing his journey and having arrived at court with the earl's letter, the king received him with great coldness, and being as usual much occupied with business, deferred his reply.

About that time, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, in England, perished by the hands of impious men, to the dismay of the great men of the realm, both lay and clerical; after having undergone the sufferings of banishment for nearly seven years in much grief, wearing sackcloth on every part of his body, and giving himself up to reading and prayer, besides, the most severe of all afflictions, a grievous proscription which spared no one, of whatever age or sex, his martyrdom at last filled up the measure of his sufferings and glory. He himself threw open the doors of the sanctuary to his furious enemies, and meeting boldly their drawn swords, bowed his consecrated head to their violence. This took place in the mother and metropolitan church, and before the altar. There he received four wounds on the crown of his head, the shaven crown which used to be regarded as a token of the protection due to the clergy, inflicted by four brutal retainers of the court, with more than brutal rage.1 The illustrious soldier and martyr of Christ was thus distinguished by intrepidly suffering in that part of the body which betokened Christ's sufferings during his passion, and exchanged a corruptible for an incorruptible crown. He also hallowed the holy week of Christmas by then shedding his blood; and as the fifth day before Christmas is consecrated to the memory of the first Thomas, so the second Thomas shed glory on the fifth day after Christmas.2 The one was the light of the East, the other of the West; one illuminated the infant church, the other the church of the latter days; and as the one cemented the foundations of the rising church with his blood, so the other, by shedding his blood, renewed the primitive virtues, and restored the edifice which in the lapse of so many ages had fallen to decay by the injuries of time, and the violence of the storms to which it had been exposed. The first Thomas was actuated by an ardent faith, the second was more than fervent when faith was now growing old. The one submitted to cruel torments while erecting the frame of the church, the other did not shrink from meeting death in order to preserve that frame uninjured. His triumphant claims to such glory are well summed up in the two following verses:

Pro Christi sponsa, Christi sub tempore, Christi

In templo Christi verus amator obit.

In Christ church, and at Christmas tide,

For Christ's spouse, Christ's true servant died.

Among his numerous miracles, there was one which was very memorable, and is well worthy of being mentioned namely, the marvellous way in which he restored organs which had been actually lost; for by this novel kind of miracle it plainly appeared that he was a new martyr. Hence some one has said,

Miratur rediisse virum neutratus, ocelli [He is surprised that the husband has returned, neutral, blind]

Succedunt oculis, albus hic, ille niger [The eyes succeed, this white, that black]

In order that no caviller might object that they were the same eyes which the sufferer had before, and to shew that they were not merely injured but actually plucked out, the new organs of sight were smaller and of a different colour, and had the power of seeing not only in the light of day, but in the dark.

Note 1. A quatuor aulicis canibus, rabie plusquam canina furentibns. [From the four court dogs, more rabid than canines]

Note 2. The feast of St. Thomas, the apostle, is held on the 21st December, and that of St. Thomas a Becket on the 29th December.

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On 29 Dec 1299 William Morley 1st Baron Morley was created 1st Baron Morley by writ of summons to King Edward I's (age 60) 47th Parliament. Isabel Mohaut Baroness Morley by marriage Baroness Morley.

Letters and Papers 1529. 29 Dec 1529. R. O. 6115. Cardinal Wolsey (age 56).

Grant by Wolsey to George Boleyn (age 26), knt., Viscount Rochford, son and heir apparent of Thomas Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond (age 52), of an annuity of £200 out of the lands of the Bishopric of Winchester, with power to distrain for nonpayment.

ii. Similar grant of an annuity of 200 marks out of the abbey lands of St. Albans.

Letters and Papers 1535. 29 Dec 1535. Vienna Archives. 1035. Charles V. to [Chapuys].

Received, on the 24th inst., his letters of 21 Nov. The ill will of the king of England to the Queen and Princess (age 50) is cruel and horrible. It is impossible to believe that he would be so unnatural as to put them to death, considering his ties to them, their descent, their virtues and long sufferings. He probably intends by threats to make them swear to and approve his statutes. There are two reasons against their taking the oath:—One, that it would alienate and discourage the good people of England, and be a means for the King and his concubine gaining the good will of all. The other is, that the King would perhaps take it as a further reason for revenging himself on them for having so long refused, and would assume that their taking the oath was an acknowledgment of the fault of disobedience, and therefore deserving the same punishment. He would suppose that the oath was taken by the Emperor's advice. Chapuys must do what he can to avoid their taking the oath without letting them run an irremediable risk. Hopes to do something for them at the approaching interview with the Pope, from his Holiness's desire to chastise the King for his daily insults to him and the Holy See. Will wait also to see whether the enterprise for which his man was sent can be carried out. He must, however, advise them to take the oath rather than lose their lives, protesting that they do it from fear. It cannot then prejudice their rights. Protestation to this effect shall be made by their proctor at Rome. Chapuys must assure them that the Emperor will take care of their interests when at Rome. Naples, 29 Dec. 1535.

Fr., from a modern copy, pp. 2.

On 29 Dec 1595 Frances Berkeley (age 31) died. She was buried at Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. Monument to Frances Berkeley and George Shirley 1st Baronet (age 36). The armorial shows Shirley Arms and Berkeley Arms impaled. Cadaver Underneath. Attributed to Jasper Hollemans.

Frances Berkeley: Around 1564 she was born to Henry Berkeley 7th Baron Berkeley and Katherine Howard Baroness Berkeley. After 21 Feb 1587 George Shirley 1st Baronet and she were married.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29 Dec 1649. I christened Sir Hugh Rilie's child with Sir George Radcliffe in our chapel, the parents being so poor that they had provided no gossips, so as several of us drawing lots it fell on me, the Dean of Peterborough (Dr. Cousin (age 55)) officiating: we named it Andrew, being on the eve of that Apostle's day.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29 Dec 1662. Hither came Jack Spicer to me, and I took him to the Swan [Map], where Mr. Herbert did give me my breakfast of cold chine of pork; and here Spicer and I talked of Exchequer matters, and how the Lord Treasurer (age 55) hath now ordered all monies to be brought into the Exchequer, and hath settled the King's revenue, and given to every general expence proper assignments; to the Navy £200,000 and odd. He also told me of the great vast trade of the goldsmiths in supplying the King (age 32) with money at dear rates.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29 Dec 1662. After all was done, the company broke up; and I spent a little while walking up and down the gallery seeing the ladies, the Queens, and the Duke of Monmouth (age 13) with his little mistress, which is very little, and like my brother-in-law's wife.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29 Dec 1664. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. Then whereas I should have gone and dined with Sir W. Pen (age 43) (and the rest of the officers at his house), I pretended to dine with my Lady Sandwich (age 39) and so home, where I dined well, and began to wipe and clean my books in my chamber in order to the settling of my papers and things there thoroughly, and then to the office, where all the afternoon sitting, and in the evening home to supper, and then to my work again.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29 Dec 1680. The Viscount Stafford (age 66) was beheaded on Towerhill [Map].

On 29 Dec 1680 William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford (age 66) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was attainted; Viscount Stafford forfeit. His wife Mary Stafford Countess Stafford (age 60), with whom he was jointly created Baron Stafford continued as Baroness.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29 Dec 1686. I went to hear the music of the Italians in the new chapel, now first opened publicly at Whitehall [Map] for the Popish Service. Nothing can be finer than the magnificent marble work and architecture at the end, where are four statues, representing St. John, St. Peter, St. Paul, and the Church, in white marble, the work of Mr. Gibbons (age 38), with all the carving and Pillars of exquisite art and great cost. The altar piece is the Salutation; the volto in fresco, the Assumption of the blessed Virgin, according to their tradition, with our blessed Savior, and a world of figures painted by Verrio. The throne where the King (age 53) and Queen (age 28) sit is very glorious, in a closet above, just opposite to the altar. Here we saw the Bishop in his mitre and rich copes, with six or seven Jesuits and others in rich copes, sumptuously habited, often taking off and Putting on the Bishop's mitre, who sat in a chair with arms pontifically, was adored and censed by three Jesuits in their copes; then he went to the altar and made divers cringes, then censing the images and glorious tabernacle placed on the altar, and now and then changing place: the crosier, which was of silver, was put into his hand with a world of mysterious ceremony, the music playing, with singing. I could not have believed I should ever have seen such things in the King of England's palace, after it had pleased God to enlighten this nation; but our great sin has, for the present, eclipsed the blessing, which I hope he will in mercy and his good time restore to its purity.

John Ashton Edmund Elliot Richard Graham 1691. On Fryday, the 2d day of this Sessions, my Lord Preston (age 41), John Ashton and Edmund Elliot, were all Arrained for High Treason, my Lord Preston was Tryed on Saturday by the name of Sir Richard Graham, Mr. Ashton on Monday. The Indictments against them consisted of Two Parts, the First of which set forth, That they had a Treasonable Design carrying on to Depose the King and Queen, and to Subvert and Alter the Government of the Kingdom of England, and to raise War and Rebellion in the same; which said Traiterous and Wicked Designs and Purposes to bring to pass, they did, on the 29th of December last, Meet and Conspire together, with several other Traitors not yet discovered, and did Compose several Treasonable Letters, Notes and Memorandums in writing, which set forth the most effectual way and means how they might Dethrone and Depose our Most Gracious Sovereign Lord and Lady the King (age 40) and Queen (age 28), and further describing therein how the Affairs of this Kingdom stood, and of what Strength and Force our Shipping was; as also the Fortifications of several Sea-Port-Towns within this Kingdom. The Second Part was their adhering to the Kings's Enemies: And to that end, that they might Acquaint Lewis the French King of the same, they did hire a Boat and Embarque themselves in order to Transport themselves and Pacquet of Treasonable Letters into France, agreeing to pay for their said Passages the Sum of One hundred Pound; and, in order to their Treasonable Voyage, they had made their Passage as far as below Gravesend [Map], but were then Taken by Captain Billop, who Cruised abroad to search for them.

After this the Evidence for the King being called, gave an Account particularly from Step to Step, how cunningly and subtilly they managed this horrid Conspiracy, by hiring the Smack called the Thomas and Elizabeth, to convey them secretly into France; in order to which they took Water in a Skuller at Surrey-Stairs, and went on Board the aforesaid Vessel, which lay in the River of Thames over against the Tower [Map]: From thence they set Sail down the River, till coming within the View of the George Frigate, lying in Long-reach, they desired the Master of the Smack to hide them under the Quarter-Hatches; which was done, they having some Fear of being discovered: There they remained till past that Danger, and then came up; but when they were within Sight of Gravesend [Map] they hid again, and a little below it Captain Billop came aboard them, under Pretence of Pressing the Masters two Men, who were assistants to him; but indeed his Design and real Intention was to find out those Traytors, which, upon Search, he found lying along under the Hatches; and after their being haled up he search'd them, and found a Pacquet of Treasonable Papers in Mr. Ashton's Bosom: which he with the Prisoners carried before my Lord Nottingham; who examined the Papers, and after being examined by the Cabinet Council they were committed to the Tower. The Evidence was very full and plain against them both, much to the same effect and purport: The Letters being also Read against them in Court, were adjudged to be of no less Import than High-Treason. Upon the whole they had nothing material to offer in their Defence; so after a very long hearing, they were both found Guilty of High Treason. Edmond Elliot was ordered to remain till further order.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29 Dec 1694. The smallpox increased exceedingly, and was very mortal. The Queen (deceased) died of it on the 28th.

In Dec 1800 King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 62) created a number of peers who supported the Act of Union ....

On 21 Dec 1800 Charles Stanley Monck 1st Viscount Monck (age 46) was created 1st Viscount Monck.

On 29 Dec 1800 ....

Murrough O'Brien 1st Marquess Thomond (age 74) was created 1st Marquess Thomond. Mary Palmer Marchioness Thomond (age 50) by marriage Marchioness Thomond.

Charles Tottenham aka Loftus 1st Marquess Ely (age 62) was created 1st Marquess Ely in County Wexford. Jane Myhill Marchioness Ely by marriage Marchioness Ely in County Wexford.

James Alexander 1st Earl Caledon (age 70) was created 1st Earl Caledon in County Tyrone.

On 29 Dec 1808 Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 40) commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Benavente whe defeated the elite Chasseurs à cheval of the French Imperial Guard.

On 29 Dec 1886 Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury was beatified as a martyr by Pope Leo XIII.

On 29 Dec 1974 William Charles Fuller (age 90) died. He was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, The Mumbles. At the time of his burial his grave was not marked with a stone.

Births on the 29th December

On 29 Dec 1552 Henri Bourbon Condé Prince Condé was born to Louis Bourbon Prince Condé (age 22) and Eléanor de Roucy de Roye Princess Condé (age 17).

On 29 Dec 1655 Charles Killigrew was born to Thomas Killigrew (age 43) and Charlotte Hesse (age 26) in Maastricht.

On 29 Dec 1704 Basil Murray was born to John Murray 1st Duke Atholl (age 44) and Catherine Hamilton Duchess Atholl (age 42).

On 29 Dec 1735 Thomas Banks was born.

On 29 Dec 1757 William Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale was born to William Lowther 1st Baronet (age 50).

On 29 Dec 1785 William Sefton George Stanhope was born to Charles Stanhope 3rd Earl of Harrington (age 32) and Jane Fleming Countess Harrington (age 30). He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 29 Dec 1809 William Ewart Gladstone was born to John Gladstone 1st Baronet (age 45) and Anne MacKenzie Robertson (age 37).

On 29 Dec 1810 Elizabeth Laura Wodehouse was born to John Wodehouse 2nd Baron Wodehouse (age 39) and Charlotte Norris Baroness Woodhouse.

On 29 Dec 1810 Thomas Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 46) and Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 34).

On 29 Dec 1812 William Wentworth Brabazon Ponsonby was born to John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 31) and Maria Fane (age 25).

On 29 Dec 1820 Dudley Marjoribanks 1st Baron Tweedmouth was born to Edward Marjoribanks (age 44).

On 29 Dec 1860 Tatton Lane-Fox Willoughby was born to Henry Willoughby 8th Baron Middleton (age 43) and Julia Louisa Bosville Baroness Middleton (age 36).

On 29 Dec 1871 Francis John Lascelles was born to Henry Thynne Lascelles 4th Earl Harewood (age 47) and Diana Smyth Countess Harewood (age 33).

On 29 Dec 1882 Henry Edward Fitzherbert was born to Richard Fitzherbert 5th Baronet (age 36) and Mary Anne Arkwright Lady Fitzherbert (age 32).

On 29 Dec 1899 William Graham Esplen 2nd Baronet was born to John Esplen 1st Baronet (age 36).

On 29 Dec 1900 Andrew Shirley was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers (age 36) and Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers.

On 29 Dec 1924 Charles John Jessel 3rd Baronet was born to George Jessel 2nd Baronet (age 33) and Muriel Gladys Chapline Lady Jessel (age 40).

Marriages on the 29th December

On 29 Dec 1558 Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba 1st Duke of Feria (age 38) and Jane Dormer Duchess Feria (age 20) were married. She by marriage Duchess Feria. He had been one of the gentleman who had accompanied Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 31) to England for his marriage to Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (deceased).

On 29 Dec 1574 George Carey 2nd Baron Hunsdon (age 27) and Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Hunsdon and Eure (age 22) were married.

On 29 Dec 1629 William Savile 3rd Baronet (age 17) and Anne Coventry Baroness Savile (age 17) were married.

Before 29 Dec 1640 George Feilding 1st Earl Desmond (age 26) and Bridget Stanhope Countess Desmond (age 25) were married. He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh (age 53).

On 29 Dec 1685 Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea (age 38) and Anne Hatton Countess Nottingham and Winchelsea were married. She by marriage Countess Nottingham. He the son of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham and Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch.

Before 29 Dec 1798 Frederick William Hervey 1st Marquess of Bristol (age 29) and Elizabeth Albana Upton (age 23) were married. He the son of Frederick Augustus Hervey 4th Earl Bristol (age 68) and Elizabeth Davers Countess Bristol (age 65).

On 29 Dec 1798 Charles Hanbury-Tracy 1st Baron Sudeley (age 20) and Henrietta Susanna Tracy were married.

On 29 Dec 1855 Matthew Noble (age 38) and Frances Mary Claxton (age 28) were married.

Before 29 Dec 1924 George Jessel 2nd Baronet (age 33) and Muriel Gladys Chapline Lady Jessel (age 40) were married.

Deaths on the 29th December

On 29 Dec 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket (age 51) was murdered at Canterbury Cathedral [Map] by four knights on behalf of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 37). Whether Henry ordered the murder, or whether the four knights were acting without orders, is a matter of conjecture. The first use of the well-known phrase "Will no-one rid me of this turbulent priest appears some five hundred and more years later in Robert Dodsley's 1740 Chronicle of the Kings of England.

On 29 Dec 1540 Hugh Hastings 14th Baron Hastings (age 35) died. His son John Hastings 15th Baron Hastings (age 9) de jure 15th Baron Hastings.

On 29 Dec 1559 Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 67) died. She was buried at St Faith's under St Paul's [Map].

On 29 Dec 1595 Frances Berkeley (age 31) died. She was buried at Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. Monument to Frances Berkeley and George Shirley 1st Baronet (age 36). The armorial shows Shirley Arms and Berkeley Arms impaled. Cadaver Underneath. Attributed to Jasper Hollemans.

Frances Berkeley: Around 1564 she was born to Henry Berkeley 7th Baron Berkeley and Katherine Howard Baroness Berkeley. After 21 Feb 1587 George Shirley 1st Baronet and she were married.

On 29 Dec 1624 Dermod McMurrough O'Brien 5th Baron Inchiquin (age 30) died.

On 29 Dec 1630 Oliver St John 1st Viscount Grandison (age 71) died. His great nephew William Villiers 2nd Viscount Grandison (age 16) succeeded 2nd Viscount Grandison. Mary Bayning Countess Anglesey (age 7) by marriage Viscountess Grandison.

On 29 Dec 1680 William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford (age 66) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was attainted; Viscount Stafford forfeit. His wife Mary Stafford Countess Stafford (age 60), with whom he was jointly created Baron Stafford continued as Baroness.

On 29 Dec 1683 John Monson 2nd Baronet (age 84) died. His grandson Henry Monson 3rd Baronet (age 30) succeeded 3rd Baronet Monson of Carleton in Lincolnshire.

On 29 Dec 1732 Geoffrey Palmer 3rd Baronet (age 77) died without issue. His nephew Thomas Palmer 4th Baronet (age 30) succeeded 4th Baronet Palmer of Carlton in Northampton.

On 29 Dec 1740 Edward Seymour 5th Baronet (age 79) died. His son Edward Seymour 8th Duke of Somerset (age 45) succeeded 6th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy. Mary Webb Duchess Somerset (age 43) by marriage Lady Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

On 29 Dec 1772 John Astley 2nd Baronet (age 85) died. Baronet Astley of Patshull extinct.

On 29 Dec 1795 Mary Murray Countess Findlater (age 75) died.

On 29 Dec 1825 Jacques-Louis David (age 77) died.

On 29 Dec 1841 Edward Boscawen 1st Earl Falmouth (age 54) died. His son George Boscawen 2nd Earl Falmouth (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl Falmouth, 5th Viscount Falmouth.

On 29 Dec 1858 Horatio Walpole 3rd Earl Orford (age 75) died. His son Horatio Walpole 4th Earl Orford (age 45) succeeded 4th Earl Orford, 5th Baron Walpole of Wollerton.

On 29 Dec 1867 Baron Pietro Carlo Marochetti (age 62) died.

On 29 Dec 1872 George Musgrave 10th Baronet (age 73) died. His son Richard Courtenay Musgrave 11th Baronet (age 34) succeeded 11th Baronet Musgrave of Hartley Castle in Westmoreland. Adora Frances Olga Wells Lady Musgrave (age 23) by marriage Lady Musgrave of Hartley Castle in Westmoreland.

On 29 Dec 1878 Arthur Hay 9th Marquess Tweedale (age 54) died without issue.

On 29 Dec 1879 Emma Stapleton died.

On 29 Dec 1953 Kathleen Douglas-Pennant Viscount Falmouth (age 92) died.

On 29 Dec 1971 Hilda Madeline Brassey Duchess Richmond (age 99) died.

On 29 Dec 1972 Rosa Bingham Countess Warwich and Brooke (age 59) died.

On 29 Dec 1974 William Charles Fuller (age 90) died. He was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, The Mumbles. At the time of his burial his grave was not marked with a stone.

On 29 Dec 1986 Harold Macmillan 1st Earl Stockton (age 92) died. His grandson Alexander Daniel Macmillan 2nd Earl of Stockton (age 43) succeeded 2nd Earl of Stockton, 2nd Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden, of Chelwood Gate in East Sussex and of Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland.

On 29 Dec 2008 John Wyndham Hanmer 8th Baronet (age 80) died. His son Wyndham Richard Hanmer 9th Baronet (age 53) succeeded 9th Baronet Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire.