James Robinson Planche was an extraordinary man: author, artist, historical adviser, antiquarian, herald, and member of the Noviomagians.
A quick chronology of his life and work:
| · Planche | · Noviomagian Society | · BAA, etc. | |
| 1796 | · Born in London | · | · |
| · | · | ||
| 1808-10 | · Apprenticed to a landscape painter | · | · |
| 1810 | · Articled to a bookseller
· Writes his first play |
· | · |
| 1818 | · His first play is performed | · | · |
| · | · | ||
| 1822 | · First opera | · | · |
| 1822-28 | · Stock writer at Covent Garden | · | · |
| 1823 | · Began theater costuming – King John with Kemble
· Introduced to Meyrick and writes intro to Critical Inquiry (Planche) 54 |
· | · |
| · | · | ||
| 1828 | · Begins to write plays under antiquarian influence | · Founding of Noviomagians | · |
| 1829 | · Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians
· Joins the Noviomagians · Meets Hallam, “the historian of the Middle Ages” (Planche) 164 |
· Faux death of Robert Lemon Sr., perpetrated by Jr. – Golden Fleece | · |
| 1831 | · Begins contributing to archaeological journals
· Founding member of the Garrick Club |
· | · Printing societies are formed |
| · | · | ||
| 1833 | · | · First volume of the Noviologia bound and indexed, with a splendid title page
· 1686 Noviomagian coin |
· |
| 1834 | · History of British Costume from the Earliest Period to the Close of the 18th Century – first edition | · Ring of Gogmagog (19 November)
· Mention of the museum of the society · Discussion of a ship burial · Design their own coat of arms |
· |
| 1837 | · | · Croker shows up with “ancient Irish shield” (Noviomagian Society, 1833) vol 2 40
· Seneschal shows unpublished poems of Chatterton (Noviomagian Society, 1833) vol 2 40 · Dublin Penny Journal article on clay pipes |
· |
| 1838 | · “dishonest sketch” joke, vol 2 p 8 | · NMS paper on the history of thimbles including Eve’s thimble
|
· Visitors begin to be admitted to the Tower for 1 shilling; 100/day
· SoA had 708 members (Levin) 49 – grows by as much as 50 members per year by the end of the century (Levin) 166 · Public Record Office Act |
| 1839-40 | · | · | · Ainsworth and Cruikshank, Tower of London |
| 1839-42 | · In charge of scenic design at Covent Garden | · | · |
| 1841 | · Parliament suggests a catalog for the Tower | · | · Historical organizations are formed |
| 1842 | · Edited two volumes of Strutt | · | · Strawberry Hill sale |
| 1843 | · Founding member of the British Archaeological Association (quickly splits in two)*+
· Begins submitting to BAA journal |
· | · |
| 1844 | · BAA article | · | · |
| · | · | · | |
| 1845 | · Delivers a paper on the Pelham Buckle at the “British Archaeological Society” | · Potato with a buckle in it from the post office | · |
| · | · | ||
| 1847 | · Committee to purchase and preserve Shakespeare’s birthplace
· Preface to the 2nd edition HBC · Archaeologia article about the mottoes of the Black Prince |
· | · |
| 1849 | · BAA article | · | · |
| 1850 | · Criticizes the Tower of London for not buying from Pratt
· BAA article |
· | · Government historical projects begin
· Rise of academic historians |
| · | · | ||
| 1847-52 | · In charge of scenic design at the Lyceum | · | · |
| 1852 | · The Pursuivant of Arms, or Heraldry Founded upon Facts
· Dedicates book to Sir Charles George Young, Knight, Garter King of Arms · Moved in with his daughter in Kent · Resigns from the Society of Antiquaries (1853?) · BAA article |
· | · |
| 1854 | · Appointed to the College of Arms as Rouge Croix Pursuivant
· Returns to London · BAA article |
· | · |
| 1855 | · Friend of Planche writes to support his plan for reorganization | · | · |
| 1857 | · Arranges Meyrick collection for display and writes for Art Treasures exhibition | · | · |
| 1858 | · Garter mission to Lisbon
· BAA article |
· | · |
| 1859 | · Planche writes report on the Tower of London and asks for the job to reorganize
· BAA article |
· | · |
| 1860 | · Planche writes another letter asking for the job to reorganize. | · | · |
| 1863 | · BAA article | · | · |
| · | · | ||
| 1864 | · A Corner in Kent | · | · |
| 1865 | · Second Garter mission to Lisbon | · | · |
| 1866 | · Becomes Somerset Herald
· Revises Hugh Clark’s An Introduction to Heraldry |
· | · |
| 1867 | · Garter mission to Vienna
· Publishes an article on the Bayeux Tapestry in the Journal of the BAA |
· | · |
| 1868 | · Invited to reorganize the armory at the Tower of London
· Arranges Meyrick collection for exhibition in South Kensington · BAA article |
· | · |
| 1869 | · Writes a report to the War Office explaining his reorganization decisions | · | · |
| 1871 | · Awarded a civil-list pension of 100 pounds “in recognition of his literary services” | · | · |
| 1872 | · Writes last play
· Recollections and Reflections, 2 volumes |
· | · |
| 1874 | · The Conqueror and his Companions, 2 volumes | · | · |
| 1876-79 | · A Cyclopaedia of Costume, or Dictionary of Dress, 2 volumes | · | · |
| 1878 | · Garter mission to Rome | · | · |
| 1879 | · Suggestions for a National Theater
· Performs in a benefit performance at Haymarket |
· | · |
| 1880 | · Dies | · | · |
| 1910 | · | · President’s chair given to Society of Antiquaries by Thomas Francis Dillon Croker | · |
- *BAA more concerned for preservation than London Society of Antiquaries
- +BAA (Journal of the British Archaeological Association) splits with Archaeological Institute (Archaeological Journal)
- Noviomagian members:
- Balmanno, Robert – first Secretary pro tem
- Bayliss
- Betham, William – Ulster King-at-Arms – Honorary Member – first Genealogist
- Brandreth, Henry, Jr. – first Poet Laureate
- Brooke, William Henry (d. 1860) – artist – first Principal Artist in Ordinary
- Brown, J Cowper
- Bruce, John
- Cooper, Samuel
- Corner, George Richard (1801-63) – antiquarian and solicitor
- Croker, Thomas Crofton (1798-1854) – government clerk, author, co-founder of the Camden Society and the Percy Society – first president
- Durham, Joseph (1814-77) – sculptor, ARA
- Elis, H
- Fairholt, F W – fist Draughtsman
- Godwin, George (1815-88) – architect, editor
- Hall, Samuel Carter (1800-89) – author and editor of the Art Union Monthly Journal, later called the Art Journal
- Jerdan, William (1782-1869) – next door neighbor and good friend of Planche – introduces him to Crofton Croker – writer and editor for the Literary Gazette, writes National Portrait Gallery catalogue, co-founder Royal Geographical Society and Royal Society of Literature – first Father Confessor
- Jewitt, Llewellynn – responsible for The Reliquary
- Jordan, O.
- Kempe, John Alfred (1785?-1846) – antiquarian and writer for the Gentleman’s Magazine – first Vice President
- Knight, William
- Langdale, E F – Wellcome MSS have his bookplate
- Lawrence
- Lemon, Robert (1800-67) – archivist – first Treasurer
- Lindsay, J., Rev. – first Chamberlain
- Lord Londesborough – president of the BAA
- Lypopather
- Moon, Francis Graham (1796-1871) – publisher and print-seller
- Newman, John
- Nicholls, John Bowyer- first Typographer
- Noble, John
- Planche, James Robinson – first Dramatist (original member!)
- Richards, John
- Richardson, Benjamin Ward
- Rosser, William Henry – first Secretary
- Rouse, John – first Usher of the Black Rod
- Saunders, Thomas (1814-90) – police – first Attorney General
- Smee – Bank of England
- Stevens, Henry
- Stevens, Benjamin Franklin
- Stevenson
- Thomas, William J. – first Notes and Queries
- De Wansey, William – first Fishmonger
- Wright, Thomas
- Jewitt 543 – 1872 members: S. C Hall, Lord High President, F. G. Moon, Bart., the Baronet; George Goodwin, Architect; Dr. Stevenson, Physician; Henry Stevens, American Minister; Joseph Durham, Sculptor; Charles Hill, ex-Sherriff; Joshua W Butterworth, Librarian; Hugh Diamond, Photographer; Edwin H Lawrence, Friar; Charles Ratcliffe, Absentee; late William Chaffers, Associate; Francis Bennoch, Treasurer, Laureate, and Acting Secretary
- –1888 members: S.C. Hall, Grand Patriarch; Benjamin Ward Richardson, Lord High President; Charles Hill, High Sheriff; Francis Bennoch, Secretary and Poet Laureate; Friar Edwin Henry Lawrence, State Chaplain; Wyke Bayliss, Public Orator; John Samuel Phene, Phoenix; George Bullen, Keeper of Books; Robert W. Edis, Surveyor; F. W. Cosens, Purveyor of Port; George R. Wright, Censor; T. F Dillon Croker, Recorder; Dr. R. D Lithgow, Troubador; Cecil Brent, Pilgrim; J. Gardner; W. H Cope, Copernicus
Okay, maybe not that quick.
