Funeral of Prince Charles, Duke of Richmond...

Item # 705712

September 22, 1673

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Sept. 22, 1673

* Among the earliest of English language newspapers to be had
* Hold something in your hands from the 17th century
* Unique gift idea for that history buff

Over half of the back page has details on the funeral of Prince Charles, Duke of Richmond and Lenox, who died by drowning in Elsinore, Denmark.
The front page has a brief item noting: "This morning arrived here the Virginia fleet, being about 25 sail of merchantmen...". This is early mention of the American colonies in a newspaper.
Complete as a single sheet issue, 6 3/4 by 11 inches, spotted foxing, a few minor margin tears, good condition.

AI notes: Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond and 6th Duke of Lennox (1639–1672/73), was an English nobleman and distant cousin of King Charles II who died tragically while serving on a diplomatic mission. Appointed as ambassador to Denmark, he drowned on December 12, 1672, in Helsingør (Elsinore) after accidentally falling into the water while transferring between ship and shore. Although he died in late 1672, his burial took place on September 20, 1673, at Westminster Abbey in London. Richmond had no surviving children, causing his English and Scottish dukedoms to become extinct upon his death. His untimely demise left a gap that King Charles II later filled by recreating the titles of Duke of Richmond and Duke of Lennox in 1675 for his illegitimate son, Charles Lennox. Despite his short life of about thirty-three years, Charles Stewart’s noble lineage and tragic end marked him as a notable figure in the Restoration-era aristocracy.