On this Day in History ... 31st July

31 Jul is in July.

1415 Southampton Plot

1423 Battle of Cravant

1643 Battle of Gainsborough

1665 Great Plague of London

1666 St James' Day Battle

1667 Treaty of Breda

1760 Battle of Warburg

1917 Battle of Passchendaele

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 31st July

On 31 Jul 1415, when King Henry V of England (age 28) was in Portchester Castle, Hampshire [Map] preparing to invade France, Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl Ulster (age 23) revealed the Southampton Plot to him. Henry Scrope 3rd Baron Scrope Masham (age 42), Thomas Grey of Werke and Heaton (age 30), and Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge (age 30) were intending to replace King Henry V of England (age 28) with Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl Ulster (age 23) as King of England based on Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl Ulster (age 23) having a better claim to the throne being descended from Edward III's second son Lionel Plantagenet 1st Duke of Clarence whereas King Henry V of England (age 28) was descended from the third son John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster.

Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby (age 30), Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford (age 29), Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 27) and Thomas Camoys 1st Baron Camoys (age 64) sat in judgement.

Polydore Vergil. 31 Jul 1423. Meanwhile Charles (age 20) besieged Cravant, to which the Earl of Salisbury (age 35) and William de la Pole Earl of Suffolk (age 26) came quickly with 4,000 armed men. They joined battle and slaughtered, routed, and defeated the French, who lost 2,000 dead and 400 captured. Among them was the Earl of Buchan (age 42), the Constable of France (age 43), who ransomed himself immediately thereafter and rejoined the fighting.

On 31 Jul 1423 the English and Burgundian army defeated the French and Scottish armies at the Battle of Cravant at Cravant, Yonne. On the English side Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 35) commanded. Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby (age 38) was second in command.

The French and Scottish army were commanded by John Stewart of Darnley 1st Count Évreux (age 43). Louis Bourbon 1st Count Vendôme 1st Count Castres (age 47) was second in command. Both were captured; Darnley lost an eye.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 31 Jul 1553. The xxxj day of July was delevered owt of the Towre [Map] the duke of Suffoke (age 36); and the sam day rod thrugh London my lade Elssabeth (age 19) to Algatt, and so to the qwens (age 37) grace her sester, with a M1. hors with a C. velvett cotes.

Note. Rode through London my lady Elizabeth. Stowe relates that the lady Elizabeth went to meet the queen on the 30th, the day after her arrival in London: he states that she was accompanied with a thousand horse, as says our diarist, but "Camden 500, and so I have heard my mother from her grandmother, who was one of them, relate, and that queen Mary then kissed every gentlewoeman [that] came with her sister." MS. note by the Rev. John Lynge, vicar of Yalding in Kent, in a copy of Stowe's Annals; Retrospective Review, 2d Series, i. 341.

Note. P. 37. The royal livery. The passage relating to the princess Elizabeth's entry should conclude thus,—"all in green guarded with white, velvet, satin, taffety, and cloth, according to their qualities." Green and white formed the livery of the Tudors. At the marriage of Arthur prince of Wales the yeomen of the guard were in large jackets of damask, white and green, embroidered before and behind with garlands of vine leaves, and in the middle a red rose. In the great picture at Windsor castle of the embarkation at Dover in 1520, the Harry Grace à Dieu is surrounded with targets, bearing the various royal badges, each placed on a field party per pale white and green. The painting called king Arthur's round table at Winchester castle, supposed to have been repainted in the reign of Henry VII. is divided into compartments of white and green. The "queenes colours" are also alluded to in the following story of a rude jest passed on the new Rood in Saint Paul's:

"Not long after this (in 1554) a merry fellow came into Pauls, and spied the Rood with Mary and John new set up; whereto, among a great sort of people, he made low curtesie, and said: Sir, your Mastership is welcome to towne. I had thought to have talked further with your Mastership, but that ye be here clothed in the Queenes colours. I hope ye be but a summer's bird, in that ye be dressed in white and greene." (Foxe, Actes and Monuments, iii. 114.)

Among the attendants on queen Mary in p. 38, three liveries are mentioned, green and white, red and white, and blue and green. The men in red and white were the servants of the lord treasurer (see p. 12, where several other liveries are described), and the blue and green would be those of the earl of Arundel or some other principal nobleman. Blue and white was perhaps king Philip's livery (p. 79).

In p. 59 we find that in 1554 even the naval uniform of England was white and green, both for officers and mariners. In noted in that page for "wearing" read "were in," which, without altering the sense, completes the grammar.

The city trained bands were, in 1557, ordered to have white coats welted with green, with red crosses (see p. 164).

The lady Elizabeth, however, did not give green and white to her own men. From two other passages (pp. 57, 120) we find her livery was scarlet or fine red, guarded with black velvet; and from the description of her coronation procession in p. 186, it seems that red or "crimson" was retained for her livery when queen.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 31 Jul 1553. The sam tyme cam to the Flett [Map] the yerle of Ruttland (age 26) and my lord Russell (age 68), in hold. The qwen('s) (age 37) grace mad [sir Thomas] Jarnyngham [Note. Thomas a mistake for Henry] vyce-chamburlayn and captayne of the garde, and ser Edward Hastyngs (age 32) her grace mad ym the maister of the horsse the sam tym.

Pepy's Diary. 31 Jul 1663. Before I went to the office I went to the Coffee House, where Sir J. Cutler (age 60) and Mr. Grant (age 43) were, and there Mr. Grant (age 43) showed me letters of Sir William Petty's (age 40), wherein he says, that his vessel which he hath built upon two keeles (a modell whereof, built for the King (age 33), he showed me) hath this month won a wager of £50 in sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat, the best ship or vessel the King (age 33) hath there; and he offers to lay with any vessel in the world. It is about thirty ton in burden, and carries thirty men, with good accommodation, (as much more as any ship of her burden,) and so any vessel of this figure shall carry more men, with better accommodation by half, than any other ship. This carries also ten guns, of about five tons weight. In their coming back from Holyhead they started together, and this vessel came to Dublin by five at night, and the pacquett-boat not before eight the next morning; and when they came they did believe that, this vessel had been drowned, or at least behind, not thinking she could have lived in that sea. Strange things are told of this vessel, and he concludes his letter with this position, "I only affirm that the perfection of sayling lies in my principle, finde it out who can".

Pepy's Diary. 31 Jul 1665. Thus we end this month, as I said, after the greatest glut of content that ever I had; only under some difficulty because of the plague, which grows mightily upon us, the last week being about 1700 or 1800 of the plague. My Lord Sandwich (age 40) at sea with a fleet of about 100 sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter (age 58), or the Dutch East India fleet. My Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 17) coming over from France, and will meet his sister at Scott's-hall. Myself having obliged both these families in this business very much; as both my Lady, and Sir G. Carteret (age 55) and his Lady (age 63) do confess exceedingly, and the latter do also now call me cozen, which I am glad of. So God preserve us all friends long, and continue health among us.

Pepy's Diary. 31 Jul 1665. Up, and very betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, Kent [Map], and there find Sir G. Carteret (age 55), and my Lady (age 63) ready to go: I being in my new coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold broad lace round my hands, very rich and fine. By water to the Ferry, where, when we come, no coach there; and tide of ebb so far spent as the horse-boat could not get off on the other side the river to bring away the coach. So we were fain to stay there in the unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool, and wind fresh, above two if not three hours to our great discontent. Yet being upon a pleasant errand, and seeing that it could not be helped, we did bear it very patiently; and it was worth my observing, I thought, as ever any thing, to see how upon these two scores, Sir G. Carteret (age 55), the most passionate man in the world, and that was in greatest haste to be gone, did bear with it, and very pleasant all the while, at least not troubled much so as to fret and storm at it. Anon the coach comes: in the mean time there coming a News thither with his horse to go over, that told us he did come from Islington [Map] this morning; and that Proctor the vintner of the Miter in Wood-street, and his son, are dead this morning there, of the plague; he having laid out abundance of money there, and was the greatest vintner for some time in London for great entertainments. We, fearing the canonicall hour would be past before we got thither, did with a great deal of unwillingness send away the license and wedding ring. So that when we come, though we drove hard with six horses, yet we found them gone from home; and going towards the church, met them coming from church, which troubled us. But, however, that trouble was soon over; hearing it was well done: they being both in their old cloaths; my Lord Crew (age 67) giving her, there being three coach fulls of them. The young lady mighty sad, which troubled me; but yet I think it was only her gravity in a little greater degree than usual. All saluted her, but I did not till my Lady Sandwich (age 40) did ask me whether I had saluted her or no.

Pepy's Diary. 31 Jul 1666. Thence parted and to Mrs. Martin's lodgings, and sat with her a while, and then by water home, all the way reading the Narrative of the late fight in order, it may be, to the making some marginal notes upon it. At the Old Swan [Map] found my Betty Michell at the doore, where I staid talking with her a pretty while, it being dusky, and kissed her and so away home and writ my letters, and then home to supper, where the brother and Mary Batelier are still and Mercer's two sisters. They have spent the time dancing this afternoon, and we were very merry, and then after supper into the garden and there walked, and then home with them and then back again, my wife and I and the girle, and sang in the garden and then to bed. Colville was with me this morning, and to my great joy I could now have all my money in, that I have in the world. But the times being open again, I thinke it is best to keepe some of it abroad.

On 31 Jul 1667 the 1667 Treaty of Breda was signed bringing to an end hostilties between England and its opponents in the Second Anglo-Dutch War: Dutch Republic, France and Denmark-Norway.

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Jul 1673. I went to see the pictures of all the judges and eminent men of the Long Robe, newly painted by Mr. Wright (age 56), and set up in Guildhall [Map], costing the city £1,000. Most of them are very like the persons they represent, though I never took Wright to be any considerable artist.

On 31 Jul 1699. Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon (age 48) wrote to Laurence Cromp of the Herald's Office: "I have returned this weeke by the derby Carrier, who will be Saturday at the castle in Smithfield, the box you sent down with the Epitaph, which I desire you to send to Mr. Gibbons, the carver in Bow Street; and overlooke the Cutting of the Letters and Cotes of Armes. I caused the Alterations to bee made in the places, wherr there was mistakes, which arr only Litterall, and are - this amended .... [list of corrections]. You may lett Me Gibbons see this letter is you thinke it necessary.

On 31 Jul 1721 Thomas Middleton Trollope was born to Thomas Trollope 4th Baronet (age 29) and Diana Middleton (age 29).

On 31 Jul 1737 Princess Augusta Charlotte Hanover was born to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales (age 30) and Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg (age 17). She a granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.

On 31 Jul 1750 John V King Portugal (age 60) died. His son Joseph I King Portugal (age 36) succeeded King Portugal.

On 31 Jul 1760 John Waldegrave 3rd Earl Waldegrave (age 42) fought at the Battle of Warburg.

On 31 Jul 1788 Amelia Sophia Hume Countess Brownlow was born to Abraham Hume 2nd Baronet (age 39) and Amelia Egerton (age 36).

On 31 Jul 1790 Frederick VI King Denmark and Norway (age 22) and Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway (age 22) were married. He the son of Christian VII King Denmark and Norway (age 41) and Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway. They were first cousins. He a great grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland. She a great granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.

After 31 Jul 1812. Monument to Reverend Geoffrey Hornby.

On 31 Jul 1888 Francis "Frank" Holl (age 43) died.

On 31 Jul 1917 Albert Edward George Arnold Keppel (age 19) was killed in action at Passchendaele.

Births on the 31st July

On 31 Jul 1570 Henri de Lorraine-Chaligny was born to Nicholas of Lorraine Duke of Mercœur (age 45) and Catherine Romula Duchess of Lorraine (age 19) at Nancy. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.28%.

On 31 Jul 1614 William Ayscough of Osgoodby was born to William Askwith of Osgoodby Grange.

On or before 13 Jul 1668 Thomas Chiffinch was born to Thomas Chiffinch (age 30). On 31 Jul 1668 he was baptised at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map].

On 31 Jul 1673 Roger Mostyn was born.

On 31 Jul 1676 Edward Irby 1st Baronet was born to Anthony Irby and Mary Stringer.

On 31 Jul 1692 Samuel Garrard 5th Baronet was born to Samuel Garrard 4th Baronet (age 42).

On 31 Jul 1704 Dorothea Ray was born to Reverend Richard Ray of Haughley in Suffolk (age 28).

On 31 Jul 1721 Thomas Middleton Trollope was born to Thomas Trollope 4th Baronet (age 29) and Diana Middleton (age 29).

Before 31 Jul 1731 Robert Jocelyn 1st Earl Roden was born. 31 Jul 1731 Robert Jocelyn 1st Earl Roden was baptised.

On 31 Jul 1733 Richard Sutton 1st Baronet was born to Robert Sutton (age 62) and Judith Tichborne Countess Sunderland (age 48).

On 31 Jul 1737 Princess Augusta Charlotte Hanover was born to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales (age 30) and Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg (age 17). She a granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.

On 31 Jul 1763 Thomas Strickland-Standish was born to Charles Francis Strickland (age 29).

On 31 Jul 1785 John James Waldegrave 6th Earl Waldegrave was born to George Waldegrave 4th Earl Waldegrave (age 33) and Elizabeth Laura Waldegrave Countess Waldegrave (age 25). He a great x 3 grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.27%.

On 31 Jul 1788 Amelia Sophia Hume Countess Brownlow was born to Abraham Hume 2nd Baronet (age 39) and Amelia Egerton (age 36).

On 31 Jul 1808 Francis Theophilus Henry Hastings 13th Earl Huntingdon was born to Hans Francis Hastings 12th Earl Huntingdon (age 28) and Frances Cobbe Countess Huntingdon.

On 31 Jul 1830 Henry Wyndham 2nd Baron Leconfield was born to George Wyndham 1st Baron Leconfield (age 43) and Mary Fanny Blunt.

On 31 Jul 1857 Augustus Alexander Brooke-Pechell 7th Baronet was born to George Samuel Brooke-Pechell 5th Baronet (age 38) and May Robertson Bremner.

On 31 Jul 1857 Major-General Edward Montagu-Stuart-Wortley was born to Francis Dudley Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie (age 28) and Maria Elizabeth Martin.

On 31 Jul 1858 Richard Eustace Bellew of Mount Firoda, Castlecomer in Kilkenny was born to Edward Joseph Bellew 2nd Baron Bellew (age 28) and Augusta Mary Bryan (age 24).

On 31 Jul 1885 Victoria Alexandrina Stella Legge was born to Henry Charles Legge (age 32).

On 31 Jul 1897 William Craven 5th Earl Craven was born to William Craven 4th Earl Craven (age 28) and Cornelia Martin Countess Craven (age 25).

On 31 Jul 1903 Arthur Gore 7th Earl of Arran was born to Arthur Gore 6th Earl of Arran (age 34) and Maud Jacqueline Marie Beauclerk van Kattendyke Countess of Arran.

Marriages on the 31st July

On 31 Jul 1617 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 19) and Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester were married.

Before 31 Jul 1620 John Gorges (age 27) and Frances Clinton (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Clinton 3rd Earl Lincoln and Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln (age 42).

On 31 Jul 1622 Edward Barkham 1st Baronet (age 30) and Francis Berney were married.

On 31 Jul 1655 William Wight (age 53) and Mary Sutton (age 36) were married at St Bride's Church.

On 31 Jul 1665 Philip Carteret (age 24) and Jemima Montagu were married. She the daughter of Edward Montagu 1st Earl Sandwich (age 40) and Jemima Crew Countess Sandwich (age 40).

Before 31 Jul 1687 Francis Rouse 3rd Baronet and Frances Archer Lady Rouse (age 30) were married.

On 31 Jul 1707 Oliver le Neve (age 45) and Elizabeth Sheffield (age 29) were married. She died three months later.

On 31 Jul 1755 James Douglas 14th Earl Morton (age 53) and Bridget Heathcote Countess Morton were married. She by marriage Countess Morton. He the son of George Douglas 13th Earl Morton.

On 31 Jul 1790 Frederick VI King Denmark and Norway (age 22) and Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway (age 22) were married. He the son of Christian VII King Denmark and Norway (age 41) and Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway. They were first cousins. He a great grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland. She a great granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.

On 31 Jul 1800 Charles Burroughs-Paulet 13th Marquess Winchester (age 36) and Anne Andrews Marchioness of Winchester (age 27) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Winchester. He the son of George Paulett 12th Marquess Winchester and Martha Ingoldsby Marchioness Winchester.

On 31 Jul 1830 Charles Bathurst (age 28) and Emily Caroline Bertie (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Montagu Bertie 5th Earl of Abingdon (age 46) and Emily Gage Countess of Abingdon. He the son of Henry Bathurst 3rd Earl Bathurst (age 68) and Georgiana Lennox Countess Bathurst (age 64). He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 31 Jul 1832 John Bell William Mansel 11th Baronet (age 25) and Mary Georgiana Dymoke (age 25) were married.

On 31 Jul 1832 Rice Richard Clayton (age 33) and Maria Amelia Nugent were married.

On 31 Jul 1860 William Horsley-Beresford 3rd Baron Decies (age 49) and Catherine Anne Dent Baroness Decies (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 28 years.

On 31 Jul 1889 Joseph Duveen 1st Baron Duveen (age 19) and Elsie Salomon (age 8) were married. Dollar Princess.

On 31 Jul 1948 Bernard van Cutsem (age 32) and Margaret Fortescue (age 24) were married. She the daughter of Hugh William Fortescue 5th Earl Fortescue (age 60) and Margaret Helen Beaumont Countess Fortescue (age 55).

Deaths on the 31st July

On 31 Jul 1392 Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope Masham (age 79) died at York [Map]. His son Stephen Scrope 2nd Baron Scrope Masham (age 47) succeeded 2nd Baron Scrope Masham.

On 31 Jul 1396 Archbishop William de Courtenay (age 54) died at Maidstone, Kent [Map]. He was buried in the quire of Canterbury Cathedral [Map].

On 31 Jul 1480 Walter Moyle (age 77) died.

On 31 Jul 1558 Thomas Holcroft (age 53) died.

On 31 Jul 1577 Henry Lygon (age 63) died.

On 31 Jul 1581 Elizabeth Talbot (age 79) died.

On 31 Jul 1587 Thomas Reresby (age 52) died.

On 31 Jul 1607 George Smith (age 63) died.

On 31 Jul 1616 Roger Wilbraham (age 62) died in Monkden Hadleigh. He was buried in St Mary the Virgin Church Monkden Hadleigh.

On 31 Jul 1620 Frances Clinton (age 17) died.

On 31 Jul 1621 Mary Washington (age 66) died at Sulgrave, Northamptonshire.

On 31 Jul 1624 Henry Lorraine II Duke Lorraine (age 61) died without male issue. His brother Francis Lorraine II Duke Lorraine (age 52) succeeded II Duke Lorraine.

On 31 Jul 1653 Thomas Dudley (age 76) died.

On or before 31 Jul 1662, the date she was buried, Anne Coventry Baroness Savile (age 50) died.

On 31 Jul 1662 Charlotte Molyneux Lady Stanley died. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Eastham [Map].

On 31 Jul 1664 George Penn (age 44) died.

After 31 Jul 1668, when his will was written, and before 21 Jun 1669, when his will was proved, John Buck 1st Baronet died. His son William Buck 2nd Baronet (age 13) succeeded 2nd Baronet Buck of Hamby Grange in Lincolnshire.

On 31 Jul 1713 Frederick William I Duke Mecklenburg-Schwerin (age 38) died.

On 31 Jul 1719 Frances Fairfax Countess Buchan (age 56) died.

On 31 Jul 1723 Charles Fitzroy (age 25) died. He was buried in the Duke of Ormonde Vault, King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

On 31 Jul 1750 John V King Portugal (age 60) died. His son Joseph I King Portugal (age 36) succeeded King Portugal.

On 31 Jul 1755 James Lockhart 2nd Baronet died.

On 31 Jul 1789 Susanna Drax died.

On 31 Jul 1816 Rachel Cavendish (age 1) died.

On 31 Jul 1829 Henry Orland Chamberlain 1st Baronet (age 56) died. His son Henry Chamberlain 2nd Baronet (age 32) succeeded 2nd Baronet Chamberlain of London. Harriet Mullen Lady Chamberlain by marriage Lady Chamberlain of London.

On 31 Jul 1829 Colonel Thomas Richard Beaumont (age 71) died.

On 31 Jul 1835 Reverend Walter St John Milmay (age 36) died without issue.

On 31 Jul 1847 Cecilia Martha Harvey Lindsay died.

On 31 Jul 1872 Commander William Dent Hedley Dent (age 76) died.

On 31 Jul 1888 Francis "Frank" Holl (age 43) died.

On 31 Jul 1899 Lilian Katharine Selina Denison (age 31) died.

On 31 Jul 1901 Harriot Mary Anne Bloomfield (age 94) died.

On 31 Jul 1903 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 42) died.

On 31 Jul 1905 Charles Cunliffe Smith 3rd Baronet (age 77) died. His son Drummond Cunliffe Smith 4th Baronet (age 44) succeeded 4th Baronet Smith of Tring Park in Hertfordshire.

On 31 Jul 1913 Balthazar Walter Foster 1st Baron Ilkeston (age 73) died. His son Balthazar Stephen Sargant Foster 2nd Baron Ilkeston (age 45) succeeded 2nd Baron Ilkeston of Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

On 31 Jul 1914 Robert Curzon 15th Baron Zouche (age 63) died. His sister Darea Curzon 16th Baroness Zouche (age 54) succeeded 16th Baroness Zouche Harringworth.

On 31 Jul 1917 William Morton Eden 5th Baron Auckland (age 58) died. His son Frederick Eden 6th Baron Auckland (age 22) succeeded 6th Baron Auckland of West Auckland.

On 31 Jul 1917 Albert Edward George Arnold Keppel (age 19) was killed in action at Passchendaele.

On 31 Jul 1923 Walter Fitzgerald (age 65) died.

On 31 Jul 1925 John Henry Howard (age 97) died at Lichfield, Staffordshire [Map].

On 31 Jul 1940 Margaret Needham (age 91) died.

On 31 Jul 1941 Madeleine Pamela Constance Wyndham (age 72) died.

On 31 Jul 1967 George Wellesley (age 78) died.

On 31 Jul 17365 Dorothy Bowyer died. She was buried at St George and St Mary's Church, Church Gresley.