On this Day in History ... 15th December

15 Dec is in December.

34th Parliament Edward III

1455 Battle of Clyst Heath

1664 Comet

1666 Paper Bill

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 15th December

Archaeologia Volume 35 1853 XXXIII. On the 15th of December [1357] the Queen (age 62) was visited by the Countess of Pembroke (age 40), who passed the entire day with her; and, from the frequency of her subsequent visits, it would appear that she was one of Isabella's closest friends. And, again, what can we infer but a clinging on her part to the memory of her lover, when we find that this lady, widow of Lawrence Hastings, Earl of Pembroke, was none other than Agnes, daughter of Mortimer himself; and that we thus have recorded visits received by Isabella of a daughter, the grandson, and grandson's brother-in law of her favourite, within the space of one month?

On 15 Dec 1449 Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond (age 19) was created 1st Earl Richmond by King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 28).

On 15 Dec 1455 the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon since 1355, and Bonville family resolved their differences at the Battle of Clyst Heath. Thomas Courtenay 13th Earl Devon (age 41) defeated William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 63). Battle something of an over-statement; the number of dead reported by one chronicler as being twelve. Following the battle the victorious Courtenay's attacked Bonville's Shute Manor.

Around 15 Dec 1486 Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney (age 35) was appointed 231st Knight of the Garter by King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 29).

On 20 May 1561 John Eyre died. On 15 Dec 1558 Margaret Blennerhasset died. They were buried in All Saints Church, Narborough [Map]. Brass. The inscription on the brass says "Here do lye John Eyer Esquire late Receyvor Generale to Elizabeth the Quenes Majestie, in the counties of Norf., Suff., Cantabridge, and Huntyngton, and one of the Masters of her High Court of Chancerye and Margaret his wyfe, one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Blenerhaiset of Frens Knight late Wyfe of John, Spelman Esquire, son and heyre apparent of Sir John Spelman, Knyght." Armorials top left and middle Quartered Eyre Arms and Townshend Arms with a crescent difference, top right Quartered Eyre Arms and Townshend Arms impaled with 1&6 Blennerhassett Arms, 2, Argent, three Escutcheons Sable: LOWDHAM 3 Gules a Pall reversed Ermine: KELVEDON or KELDON 4 Azure a Lion rampant Argent crowned Or: ORTON: 5 Azure a Fess between three Fleurs-de-lis Or: SKELTON.

John Eyre: After 27 Dec 1545 he and Margaret Blennerhasset were married. Her second husband.

Margaret Blennerhasset: she was born to Thomas Blennerhassett of Frens. Before 27 Dec 1545 John Spelman of and she were married.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Dec 1664. So to the Coffeehouse, where great talke of the Comet seen in several places; and among our men at sea, and by my Lord Sandwich (age 39), to whom I intend to write about it to-night.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Dec 1666. Good news to-day upon the Exchange [Map], that our Hamburgh fleete is got in; and good hopes that we may soon have the like of our Gottenburgh, and then we shall be well for this winter. Very merry at dinner. And by and by comes in Matt. Wren (age 37) from the Parliament-house; and tells us that he and all his party of the House, which is the Court party, are fools, and have been made so this day by the wise men of the other side; for, after the Court party had carried it yesterday so powerfully for the Paper-Bill1, yet now it is laid aside wholly, and to be supplied by a land-tax; which it is true will do well, and will be the sooner finished, which was the great argument for the doing of it. But then it shews them fools, that they would not permit this to have been done six weeks ago, which they might have had. And next, they have parted with the Paper Bill, which, when once begun, might have proved a very good flower in the Crowne, as any there. So do really say that they are truly outwitted by the other side.

Note 1. It was called "A Bill for raising part of the supply for his Majesty by an imposition on Sealed Paper and Parchment" B.

On 15 Dec 1680 Frances Winchcombe Viscountess Bolingbroke was born to Henry Winchcombe 2nd Baronet (age 21).

On 15 Dec 1760 Colonel William Monson was born to John Monson 2nd Baron Monson (age 33).

On 15 Dec 1785 King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland (age 23) and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" (age 29) were married. The marriage was invalid under English civil law because his father had not given his consent. Her uncle Henry Errington and her brother John Smythe were witnesses. The ceremony was performed by one of the prince's Chaplains in Ordinary, the Reverend Robert Burt, whose debts of £500 were paid by the prince to release him from Fleet Prison [Map]. He the son of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 47) and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 41).

On 15 Dec 1879 Charles Robert Grey 5th Earl Grey was born to Albert Henry George Grey 4th Earl Grey (age 28) and Alice Holford Countess Grey.

On 15 Dec 1882 Major Victor Mackenzie 3rd Baronet was born.

Salisbury Cathedral [Map]. On 15 Dec 1922 Lieutenant General Sir George Montague Harper (age 57) died in a car accident when his car skidded and overturned fracturing his skull. Memorial in Salisbury Cathedral [Map] sculpted by Allan Gairdner Wyon (age 40).

Lieutenant General Sir George Montague Harper: On 11 Jan 1865 he was born.

On 15 Dec 1952 William Goscombe John (age 92) died. He was buried at Hampstead Cemetery.

Births on the 15th December

On 15 Dec 1291 Aymon "Peaceful" Savoy Count Savoy was born to Amadeus V "Great" Savoy (age 42) and Sybille Bagé.

On 15 Dec 1447 Albert Wittelsbach IV Duke Bavaria was born to Albert Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria (age 46) and Anna Brunswick Grubenhagen Duchess Bavaria (age 33).

On 15 Dec 1560 Christopher Allen was born to William Allen (age 28) in Kidderminster, Worcestershire [Map].

On 15 Dec 1587 Helen West was born to Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr (age 31) and Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr (age 32).

On 15 Dec 1588 Thomas Vyner 1st Baronet was born to Thomas Vyner (age 59) at North Cerney, Gloucestershire.

On 15 Dec 1588 Duke Adolphus Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was born to Duke John VII of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (age 30) and Sophia Oldenburg (age 19). Coefficient of inbreeding 1.89%.

After 15 Dec 1639 Joseph Maynard was born to John Maynard (age 35). He was baptised on 15 Dec 1639.

On 15 Dec 1650 Mabel Hastings was born to Henry Hastings (age 45) and Jane Goodall at Humberstone, Leicestershire.

On 15 Dec 1667 Landgrave Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt was born to Louis VI Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt (age 37) in Darmstadt.

Before 15 Dec 1668 John Buller was born.

On 15 Dec 1680 Frances Winchcombe Viscountess Bolingbroke was born to Henry Winchcombe 2nd Baronet (age 21).

On 15 Dec 1713 Welbore Ellis 1st Baron Mendip was born to Bishop Welbore Ellis (age 62) and Diana Briscoe.

On or before 15 Dec 1742 John Wood of Beadnell in Northumberland was born to Thomas Wood of Beadnell and Ann Craster (age 33). He was baptised 15 Dec 1742.

On 15 Dec 1746 Henry Seymour-Conway was born to Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Marquess Hertford (age 28) and Isabella Fitzroy Countess Hertford (age 20). He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 15 Dec 1748 Lucy Fox-Strangways was born to Stephen Fox-Strangways 1st Earl of Ilchester (age 44) and Elizabeth Strangways-Horner Countess Ilchester (age 26).

On 15 Dec 1760 Colonel William Monson was born to John Monson 2nd Baron Monson (age 33).

On 15 Dec 1779 Susan Mordaunt Countess St Germans was born to John Mordaunt 7th Baronet (age 45) and Elizabeth Prowse Lady Mordaunt (age 30).

On 15 Dec 1780 Henry Willoughby was born to James Willoughby (age 49).

On 15 Dec 1808 Edward Arkwright was born.

On 15 Dec 1837 Katherine Frances Scott was born to John Scott 2nd Earl Eldon (age 32) and Louisa Duncombe Countess Eldon (age 30).

On 15 Dec 1839 Mary Asquith was born to Joseph Asquith (age 23).

On 15 Dec 1848 Gilbert Hugh Myddleton-Biddulph was born to Colonel Robert Myddelton-Biddulph (age 43) and Fanny Mostyn-Owen (age 41).

On 15 Dec 1849 William Turnour Thomas Poulett was born to William Henry Paulett 6th Earl Paulett (age 22) and Elizabeth Lavinia Newman Countess Poulett. Given that he was born six months after his parents were married his paternity was subject to some doubt. His father William Henry Paulett 6th Earl Paulett (age 22) suspected Captain William Turnor Granville was the boys father.

On 15 Dec 1849 William Henry Holland 1st Baron Rotherham was born.

On 15 Dec 1866 Henry Holmes Miller 9th Baronet was born to Henry John Miller (age 36).

On 15 Dec 1879 Charles Robert Grey 5th Earl Grey was born to Albert Henry George Grey 4th Earl Grey (age 28) and Alice Holford Countess Grey.

On 15 Dec 1881 Yvo Vesey 5th Viscount Vesey was born to Eustace Vesey (age 30) and Constance Mary Lawley (age 27).

On 15 Dec 1882 Major Victor Mackenzie 3rd Baronet was born.

On 15 Dec 1900 Cynthia Maud Beckett was born to William Gervase Beckett 1st Baronet (age 34) and Mabel Theresa Duncombe (age 23). Coefficient of inbreeding 3.32%.

On 15 Dec 1911 Louise Fermor-Hesketh was born to Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 1st Baron Hesketh (age 30) and Florence Louise Breckinridge (age 30).

Marriages on the 15th December

Before 15 Dec 1376 Stephen Scrope 2nd Baron Scrope Masham (age 31) and Margery Welles Baroness Scrope Masham (age 26) were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope Masham. They were third cousin once removed.

On 15 Dec 1578 William Bourchier 3rd Earl Bath (age 21) and Mary Cornwallis Countess Bath were married. The marriage, apparently, taking place secretly at night. She by marriage Countess Bath.

On 15 Dec 1711 George Granville 1st Baron Lansdowne (age 45) and Mary Villiers Baroness Lansdowne were married at St Martin in the Fields [Map]. She the daughter of Edward Villiers 1st Earl Jersey and Barbara Chiffinch Countess Jersey (age 48).

On 15 Dec 1763 Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Shannon (age 36) and Catherine Ponsonby Countess Shannon were married. He the son of Henry Boyle 1st Earl Shannon (age 81) and Henrietta Boyle.

On 15 Dec 1768 George Devereux 13th Viscount Hereford (age 24) and Marianna Devereux Viscountess Hereford were married. They were third cousins?

On 15 Dec 1769 Webb Seymour 10th Duke Somerset (age 51) and Anne Maria Bonnell Duchess Somerset were married. She by marriage Duchess Somerset. He the son of Edward Seymour 8th Duke Somerset and Mary Webb Duchess Somerset.

Before 15 Dec 1779 John Mordaunt 7th Baronet (age 45) and Elizabeth Prowse Lady Mordaunt (age 30) were married. She by marriage Lady Mordaunt of Massingham Parva.

On 15 Dec 1785 King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland (age 23) and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" (age 29) were married. The marriage was invalid under English civil law because his father had not given his consent. Her uncle Henry Errington and her brother John Smythe were witnesses. The ceremony was performed by one of the prince's Chaplains in Ordinary, the Reverend Robert Burt, whose debts of £500 were paid by the prince to release him from Fleet Prison [Map]. He the son of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 47) and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 41).

On 15 Dec 1795 Augustus George Legge (age 22) and Honora Bagot (age 20) were married. He the son of William Legge 2nd Earl Dartmouth (age 64) and Frances Catherine Gounter Nicoll Countess Dartmouth (age 62). They were second cousins.

On 15 Dec 1825 Reverend Daniel Heneage Finch-Hatton (age 30) and Louisa Greville were married. She the daughter of Robert Fulke Greville and Louisa Cathcart 2nd Countess Mansfield (age 67).

On 15 Dec 1825 Arthur Perceval (age 26) and Charlotte Anne Legge were married.

On 15 Dec 1831 Reverend Charles Thomas Longley (age 37) and Caroline Sophia Parnell were married.

On 15 Dec 1834 Adolphus Frederick Charles Molyneux Capell (age 21) and Charlotte Mary Maynard were married.

On 15 Dec 1853 Reverend John Venables-Vernon (age 55) and Caroline Paget were married.

On 15 Dec 1886 William Charles Evans 8th Baron Carbery (age 74) and Victoria Cecil Baroness Carbery (age 43) were married. The difference in their ages was 31 years. She the daughter of Brownlow Cecil 2nd Marquess Exeter and Frances Isabella Selina Poyntz Marchioness of Exeter.

On 15 Dec 1952 Herbert Hervey 5th Marquess of Bristol (age 82) and Dora Frances Emblin Marchioness Bristol were married. She by marriage Marchioness of Bristol.

On 15 Dec 1975 Paul Pellew 10th Viscount Exmouth (age 35) and Rosemary Frances Scoones Viscoutess Exmouth were married. She by marriage Viscountess Exmouth. She the former wife of Murray Beauclerk 14th Duke St Albans (age 36).

Deaths on the 15th December

On 15 Dec 1037 Calvus Manasses Montdidier died.

On 15 Dec 1128 Fulco Esate I Marquis Este died.

On 15 Dec 1283 Philip Courtenay (age 40) died.

Around 15 Dec 1377 John Botetort (age 45) died.

On 15 Dec 1450 Constance Mauley Lady Morley (age 67) died.

On 15 Dec 1461 Afonso Aviz I Duke Braganza (age 84) died.

On 15 Dec 1470 John Valois Anjou II Duke Lorraine (age 46) died at Barcelona.

On 15 Dec 1560 Thomas Parry (age 45) died.

On 20 May 1561 John Eyre died. On 15 Dec 1558 Margaret Blennerhasset died. They were buried in All Saints Church, Narborough [Map]. Brass. The inscription on the brass says "Here do lye John Eyer Esquire late Receyvor Generale to Elizabeth the Quenes Majestie, in the counties of Norf., Suff., Cantabridge, and Huntyngton, and one of the Masters of her High Court of Chancerye and Margaret his wyfe, one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Blenerhaiset of Frens Knight late Wyfe of John, Spelman Esquire, son and heyre apparent of Sir John Spelman, Knyght." Armorials top left and middle Quartered Eyre Arms and Townshend Arms with a crescent difference, top right Quartered Eyre Arms and Townshend Arms impaled with 1&6 Blennerhassett Arms, 2, Argent, three Escutcheons Sable: LOWDHAM 3 Gules a Pall reversed Ermine: KELVEDON or KELDON 4 Azure a Lion rampant Argent crowned Or: ORTON: 5 Azure a Fess between three Fleurs-de-lis Or: SKELTON.

John Eyre: After 27 Dec 1545 he and Margaret Blennerhasset were married. Her second husband.

Margaret Blennerhasset: she was born to Thomas Blennerhassett of Frens. Before 27 Dec 1545 John Spelman of and she were married.

On 15 Dec 1587 Nicholas Saunders of Ewell in Surrey (age 57) died.

On 15 Dec 1591 Nicholas Strange (age 29) died at Hunstanton, Norfolk.

On 15 Dec 1603 Christopher Plunkett 8th Baron Dunsany died. His son Patrick Plunkett 9th Baron Dunsany (age 8) succeeded 9th Baron Dunsany.

On 15 Dec 1605 Thomas aka Francis Gawdy (age 77) died.

On 15 Dec 1611 Mary Kerr (age 44) died.

On 15 Dec 1611 Walter "Bold Buccleuch" Scott (age 46) died.

On 15 Dec 1612 Thomas Mildmay died.

On 15 Dec 1619 Thomas Butler Viscount Thurles (age 38) drowned accidentally at Skerries, Anglesey having been sent to England to answer charges of having garissoned Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny.

On 15 Dec 1626 Anna Marie Wettin (age 37) died at Dresden.

On 15 Dec 1630 William Borlase (age 41) died.

On 15 Dec 1634 Elizabeth Evelyn (age 20) died. She was buried in St John's Church, Wotton.

On 15 Dec 1638 Dorothy Willoughby (age 64) died.

Before 15 Dec 1654 Elizabeth Villiers Countess Morton (age 45) died.

On 15 Dec 1657 Thomas Clifton (age 51) died. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Kirkham [Map] on 17 Dec 1657.

On 15 Dec 1657 Richard Clifton (age 53) drowned.

Around 15 Dec 1663 Edward Pepys (age 46) died.

On 15 Dec 1673 Thomas Gerard (age 65) died at Machodoc. He was buried Longsword Point St Mary's County Maryland.

On 15 Dec 1680 George Coventry 3rd Baron Coventry (age 52) died. On 15 Dec 1680 His son John Coventry 4th Baron Coventry (age 26) succeeded 4th Baron Coventry.

On 15 Dec 1690 Thomas Allen 1st Baronet (age 57) died. His son Thomas Allen 2nd Baronet (age 42) succeeded 2nd Baronet Allen of Totteridge in Middlesex.

On 15 Dec 1692 Robert Henley (age 69) died.

On 15 Dec 1715 William Maynard 2nd Baronet (age 39) died. His brother Henry Maynard 3rd Baronet (age 39) succeeded 3rd Baronet Maynard of Walthamstow in Essex.

On 15 Dec 1717 Margaret Lucas Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne (age 94) died.

On 15 Dec 1725 Francis Edwardes (age 68) died.

Around 15 Dec 1738 John Gray 10th Lord Gray (age 56) died.

On 15 Dec 1750 William Legge 1st Earl Dartmouth (age 78) died. His grandson William Legge 2nd Earl Dartmouth (age 19) succeeded 2nd Earl Dartmouth, 3rd Baron Dartmouth.

On 15 Dec 1752 Margaret Herbert died.

On 15 Dec 1761 Henriette Louise Jeffreys Countess Pomfret (age 63) died.

On 15 Dec 1762 Henry Charles Hatton 3rd Viscount (age 62) died. Viscount Hatton and Baron Hatton extinct.

On 15 Dec 1772 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet (age 81) died without issue. His nephew Justinian Isham 7th Baronet (age 32) succeeded 7th Baronet Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

On 15 Dec 1793 Webb Seymour 10th Duke Somerset (age 75) died. His son Edward Seymour 11th Duke Somerset (age 18) succeeded 11th Duke Somerset, 9th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

On 15 Dec 1821 Harry Niven Lumsden 1st Baronet died. Baronet Lumsden of Auchindoir in Aberdeenshire extinct; he had held the title for four months.

On 15 Dec 1828 John Crichton 1st Earl Erne (age 97) died. His son Abraham Crichton 2nd Earl Erne (age 63) succeeded 2nd Earl Erne of Crom Castle in County Fermanagh.

On 15 Dec 1835 Charlotte Sophia Digby (age 68) died.

On 15 Dec 1837 Henry Barré Beresford (age 53) died.

On 15 Dec 1841 William St Julien Arabin (age 68) died.

On 15 Dec 1855 Charlotte Juliana Jane Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 46) died.

On 15 Dec 1857 George Cayley 6th Baronet (age 83) died.

On 15 Dec 1864 Algernon Frederick Greville (age 65) died at Hillingdon West Drayton.

On 15 Dec 1887 Sarah Monckton Pattle (age 71) died.

On 15 Dec 1888 Alexander Hesse Darmstadt (age 65) died.

On 15 Dec 1889 Edward Caird (age 84) died.

On 15 Dec 1891 Georgiana Lennox Baroness Ros Helmsley (age 96) died.

On 15 Dec 1893 Thomas Taylour (age 49) died.

On 15 Dec 1894 Charles Pelham Pelham-Clinton (age 81) died.

On 15 Dec 1895 Francis Leveson-Gower aka Egerton (age 71) died.

On 15 Dec 1897 Eleanora Julia (age 74) died.

On 15 Dec 1898 William John Legh 1st Baron Newton (age 69) died.

On 15 Dec 1899 Admiral Reginald John Macdonald of Clanranald (age 79) died.

On 15 Dec 1901 James Laing (age 78) died.

On 15 Dec 1908 Lt Colonel Hugh Annesley 5th Earl Annesley (age 77) died.

On 15 Dec 1917 Anne King-Noel 15th Baroness Wentworth (age 80) died. Her daughter Judith Blunt-Lytton 16th Baroness Wentworth (age 44) succeeded 16th Baroness Wentworth.

On 15 Dec 1919 Beatrice Anson (age 54) died.

Salisbury Cathedral [Map]. On 15 Dec 1922 Lieutenant General Sir George Montague Harper (age 57) died in a car accident when his car skidded and overturned fracturing his skull. Memorial in Salisbury Cathedral [Map] sculpted by Allan Gairdner Wyon (age 40).

Lieutenant General Sir George Montague Harper: On 11 Jan 1865 he was born.

On 15 Dec 1924 Bertha Louisa Payne-Gallwey (age 70) died.

On 15 Dec 1938 Violet Harriet Nightingale (age 71) died.

On 15 Dec 1943 Susannah West Wilson (age 79) died.

On 15 Dec 1946 Admiral Herbert Richmond (age 75) died.

On 15 Dec 1947 Benjamin Seymour Guinness (age 79) died.

On 15 Dec 1949 Charles Strathavon Heathcote-Willoughby-Drummond (age 79) died.

On 15 Dec 1952 William Goscombe John (age 92) died. He was buried at Hampstead Cemetery.

On 15 Dec 1958 Louise De Vere Beauclerk (age 89) died.

On 15 Dec 1971 Helena Zimmerman (age 93) died.