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James Bringfeild also spelt Bringfield (1656–1706) was equerry to
Prince George of Denmark Prince George of Denmark ( da, Jørgen; 2 April 165328 October 1708) was the husband of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. He was the consort of the British monarch from Anne's accession on 8 March 1702 until his death in 1708. The marriage of Georg ...
and Aide-de-camp to
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 O.S.) was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reign ...
. He was killed in the
Battle of Ramillies The Battle of Ramillies (), fought on 23 May 1706, was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon ar ...
.


Education

Born in Abingdon, he was educated at
John Roysse John Roysse (1500 or 1501–1571) was an English mercer and benefactor of Abingdon School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Personal life John Roysse was probably connected with the Roysse family of East Hagbourne but there are few records appertaining ...
's Free School in Abingdon (now
Abingdon School Abingdon School is a day and boarding independent school for boys in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. The twentieth oldest independent British school, it celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. The school was described as "highly ...
) from c.1666-c.1670.


Career

He was commissioned as a
Cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...
with the
Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, KG, PC (15 July 16601 February 1718) was an English politician who was part of the Immortal Seven group that invited Prince William III of Orange to depose King James II of England during the Glorious R ...
's Regiment of Horse (1685). He was promoted to Captain 1st Troop of Life Guards, Major of Horse (1702) and then Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Life Guards. He later became
equerry An equerry (; from French ' stable', and related to 'squire') is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually up ...
to Prince George of Denmark and Aide-de-camp to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the
Battle of Blenheim The Battle of Blenheim (german: Zweite Schlacht bei Höchstädt, link=no; french: Bataille de Höchstädt, link=no; nl, Slag bij Blenheim, link=no) fought on , was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. The overwhelming Allied v ...
and
Battle of Ramillies The Battle of Ramillies (), fought on 23 May 1706, was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon ar ...
. According to his will he was from the parish of
St Margaret's, Westminster The Church of St Margaret, Westminster Abbey, is in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, London, England. It is dedicated to Margaret of Antioch, and forms part of a single World Heritage Site with the Palace of Westminster a ...
.


Death

He was killed during the
Battle of Ramillies The Battle of Ramillies (), fought on 23 May 1706, was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon ar ...
on 23 May 1706. There is a memorial tablet to his memory in the north aisle of the nave at
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...
. The account of the death was recorded by Captain Robert Parker of the Royal Regiment of Foot of Ireland, who wrote "His Grace (the Duke of Marlborough) had another narrow escape; when in shifting back from Captain Molesworth's horse to his own, Colonel Bringfield holding the stirrup, was killed by a cannon-shot from the village of Ramillies." The death is mentioned in the Duke's letter to his wife
Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a piou ...
. It is believed that the shot may have decapitated him and the manner of his death resulted in many poems and stories being compiled during the period.


Family and other life

He was married to Clemence Bringfeild who was responsible for erecting the memorial tablet. His coat of arms was an azure shield with three pears. His death highlighted the use of the Ramillies wig which subsequently became a fashion.


See also

*
List of Old Abingdonians Old Abingdonians are former pupils of Abingdon School or, in some cases, Honorary Old Abingdonians who have been awarded the status based on service to the School. The Old Abingdonians also run the Old Abingdonian Club (OA club) which is an organ ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bringfeild, James 1656 births 1706 deaths People educated at Abingdon School