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James Robinson Planché (27 February 1796 – 30 May 1880) was a British dramatist,
antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifacts, archaeological and historic sit ...
and
officer of arms An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions: * to control and initiate armorial matters; * to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state; * to conserve ...
. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including
extravaganza An extravaganza is a literary or musical work (often musical theatre) usually containing elements of burlesque, pantomime, music hall and parody in a spectacular production and characterized by freedom of style and structure. It sometimes also ha ...
, farce, comedy,
burletta In theater and music history, a burletta ( Italian, meaning "little joke", sometimes burla or burlettina) is a brief comic opera. In eighteenth-century Italy, a burletta was the comic intermezzo between the acts of an ''opera seria''. The extended ...
,
melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exce ...
and opera. Planché was responsible for introducing historically accurate costume into nineteenth century British theatre, and subsequently became an acknowledged expert on historical costume, publishing a number of works on the topic. Planché's interest in historical costume led to other antiquarian research, including heraldry and genealogy. He was elected a
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...
in 1829, and was influential in the foundation of the
British Archaeological Association The British Archaeological Association (BAA) was founded in 1843 and aims to inspire, support and disseminate high quality research in the fields of Western archaeology, art and architecture, primarily of the mediaeval period, through lectures, con ...
in 1843. Appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant in 1854 and promoted to Somerset Herald in 1866, Planché undertook heraldic and ceremonial duties as a member of the
College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...
. These included proclaiming peace at the end of the
Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the ...
and investing foreign monarchs with the
Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, outranked in ...
.


Early and personal life

James Robinson Planché was born in Old Burlington St,
Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's C ...
, London in 1796 to Jacques Planché and Catherine Emily Planché. His parents were first cousins and descendants of
Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...
refugees who had fled to England in 1685 following the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes The Edict of Nantes () was signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV and granted the Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was in essence completely Catholic. In the edict, Henry aimed pr ...
.Roy, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. Jacques Planché was a moderately prosperous watchmaker, a trade he had learned in Geneva, and was personally known to
King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Bri ...
.Planché, ''Recollections and Reflections'', I. 9–10. His name was pronounced "plank" or "planky" for the beginning of his life, but he added, or rather re-added, the accent to his name, restoring the French pronunciation. However, after doing this, editors would sometimes jab at Planché writing "that a particular work of 'Mr. Plank' was 'wooden'". Planché was educated at home until the age of eight by his mother (who had written a treatise on education). He did not continue his home education, as his mother took ill and died when Planché was nine years old. Obituary, ''The Illustrated London News'', 5 June 1880, p. 557. He was then sent to boarding school where, in his words: "''I was ''im''perfected, and ''un''taught the French I spoke fluently as a child.''" In 1808 he was apprenticed to a French landscape painter, Monsieur de Court, where he studied perspective and geometry, which would later help him in his theatre endeavours. However this apprenticeship was curtailed by de Court's death two years later. Planché was then articled as an apprentice to a bookseller, with the hope that this would also give him the opportunity to sell some of his own writings. This is where Planché considered his "theatrical propensities" began to develop. During this period he joined an amateur theatre company, in which he acted and wrote plays. The manuscript of one of these early plays, ''Amoroso, King of Little Britain'', was by chance seen by the comic actor John Pritt Harley, who, recognising its potential, brought about (and acted in) its performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Its favourable reception launched Planché on his theatrical career.


Marriage and family

On 26 April 1821, Planché married Elizabeth St George, a playwright. She wrote ''The Welsh Girl'' for the Olympic Theatre shortly after its opening in 1831 and, emboldened by its successful reception, continued to write for the stage. Among her more successful plays were ''A Handsome Husband'' and ''A Pleasant Neighbour'', both at the Olympic, and ''The Sledge Driver'' and ''The Ransom'', both produced at the
Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foot ...
. From viewing their plays, it's thought that they collaborated, as he excelled in "playful dialog", and she excelled in "sentimental and melodramatic scenes". Elizabeth Planché died in 1846 after a long illness. The couple had two daughters, Katherine Frances, born in 1823, and Matilda Anne, born in 1825. Katherine married William Curteis Whelan of Heronden Hall, Tenterden, Kent in 1851. George Clement Boase, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. Matilda achieved success as an author of children's books (using the pen name Susie Sunbeam), beginning in 1849 with ''A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam'', which subsequently went through 42 editions. She married the Rev. Henry Mackarness in 1852, and with him had eleven children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Taking after her father in terms of writing output, Matilda Mackarness produced an average of one book a year until her death, most of them under her married name. Her husband's death in 1868 left her with little means of supporting her family, as the books did not produce much income. She and her children moved in with her father.


Life

Despite his large number of successful plays, Planché was never particularly wealthy, and he felt pressure from needing to support his grandchildren. Circumstances improved when in 1871 he was awarded a
civil list A civil list is a list of individuals to whom money is paid by the government, typically for service to the state or as honorary pensions. It is a term especially associated with the United Kingdom and its former colonies of Canada, India, New Zeal ...
pension of £100 per annum 'in recognition of his literary services'. Planché died at his home in
Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament con ...
on 30 May 1880 at the age of 84. His wealth at the time of his death was under £1000. Planché "greatly enjoyed moving in society and meeting the well-known".Colin Lee, "James Robinson Planché", p. 28. He was a regular attender at ''conversaziones'', breakfasts and ''soireés'' where he "met and was introduced to most of the notabilities then living in London". In 1831 he was a founding member of the Garrick Club. His autobiography contains many anecdotes of his acquaintances in theatrical and literary circles. Planché was also much esteemed in private life.


Theatrical career


Early career and libretti

Planché's career as a playwright began, as already mentioned, in 1818 when ''Amoroso, King of Little Britain'', a play he had written for an amateur performance at a private theatre, was seen by
John Pritt Harley John Pritt Harley (February 1786 – 22 August 1858) was an English actor known for his comic acting and singing. Early years Harley was the son of John Harley, a draper and silk mercer, and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptised in the parish ch ...
and subsequently performed at Drury Lane. The play was a success and Harley, along with Stephen Kemble and
Robert William Elliston Robert William Elliston (7 April 1774 – 7 July 1831) was an English actor and theatre manager. Life He was born in London, the son of a watchmaker. He was educated at St Paul's School, but ran away from home and made his first appearance on ...
, encouraged Planché to take up play-writing full-time. Planché did so; his next play to be performed was a
pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...
at Christmas of that same year. A further six of his plays were performed in 1819, the same number in 1820, and eleven in 1821, most of these at the
Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receivi ...
, but also including some at the
Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the ...
, the Olympic and
Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-sea ...
.Planché, ''Extravaganzas'', Vol. 5, pp. 316–331. Planché's early works were "generally unremarkable", one exception in this period being '' The Vampire, or, The Bride of the Isles'', produced at the Lyceum in August 1820, an adaptation of
Charles Nodier Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier (29 April 1780 – 27 January 1844) was a French author and librarian who introduced a younger generation of Romanticists to the ''conte fantastique'', gothic literature, and vampire tales. His dream related writing ...
's ''Le Vampire'' (this was a dramatisation of John Polidori's novel '' The Vampyre''). The play featured the innovative "vampire trap", a trapdoor in the stage which allowed an actor to disappear (or appear) almost instantly. ''Kenilworth Castle, or, the Days of Queen Bess'', produced 8 February 1821, was also very successful. Planché wrote a total of 176 plays. Planché held the position of stock author (in-house writer) at the Adelphi for a short period in 1821, before moving to a similar position at the
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal ...
. In 1822 he wrote the
libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major lit ...
(and some of the music) for his first full-scale opera, ''Maid Marian; or, the Huntress of Arlingford''. In 1826 he wrote the libretto for another opera, '' Oberon, or the Elf-King's Oath'', the final work of composer
Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his operas, ...
, who died a few months after its completion. While this opera was a commercial success and received a favourable critical response at the time, subsequent critics have not appreciated Planché's libretto. In 1838 Planché was to collaborate on an opera with another notable composer,
Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sym ...
. Mendelssohn originally approved of Planché's choice of topic,
Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring ro ...
's siege of Calais in the Hundred Years War, and responded positively to the first two acts of the libretto. But, after Mendelssohn received the final act, he expressed doubts about the subject, asked Planché to start work on a completely new libretto, and eventually stopped replying to Planché's letters. The opera never came to production.


Historical costume, dramatic copyright, tableaux vivants

In August 1823, in an issue of ''The Album'', he published an article saying that more attention should be paid to the time period of Shakespeare's plays, especially when it comes to costumes. In the same year, a casual conversation led to one of Planché's more lasting effects on British theatre. He observed to
Charles Kemble Charles Kemble (25 November 1775 – 12 November 1854) was a Welsh-born English actor of a prominent theatre family. Life Charles Kemble was one of 13 siblings and the youngest son of English Roman Catholic theatre manager/actor Roger Kemble ...
, the manager of Covent Garden, that "while a thousand pounds were frequently lavished upon a Christmas pantomime or an Easter spectacle, the plays of Shakespeare were put upon the stage with makeshift scenery, and, at the best, a new dress or two for the principal characters".Obituary, ''The New York Times'', 15 June 1880, p. 3. Kemble "saw the possible advantage of correct appliances catching the taste of the town", and agreed to give Planché control of the costuming for the upcoming production of '' King John'', if he would carry out the research, design the costumes and superintend the production. Planché had little experience in this area and sought the help of antiquaries such as Francis Douce and Sir Samuel Meyrick. The research involved sparked Planché's latent antiquarian interests; these came to occupy an increasing amount of his time later in life.Reinhardt, "The Costume Designs of James Robinson Planché", pp. 526–7. Despite the actors' reservations, ''King John'' was a success and led to a number of similarly costumed Shakespeare productions by Kemble and Planché ('' Henry IV, Part I'', ''
As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has ...
'', ''
Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cy ...
'', ''
Cymbeline ''Cymbeline'' , also known as ''The Tragedie of Cymbeline'' or ''Cymbeline, King of Britain'', is a play by William Shakespeare set in Ancient Britain () and based on legends that formed part of the Matter of Britain concerning the early Cel ...
'', ''
Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...
''). The designs and renderings of ''King John'', ''Henry IV'', ''As You Like It'', ''Othello'', ''Hamlet'' and ''Merchant of Venice'' were published, though there is no evidence that ''Hamlet'' and ''Merchant of Venice'' were ever produced with Planché's historically accurate costume designs. Planché also wrote a number of plays or adaptations which were staged with historically accurate costumes (''Cortez'', ''The Woman Never Vext'', ''The Merchant's Wedding'', ''Charles XII'', ''The Partisans'', ''The Brigand Chief'', and ''Hofer''). After 1830, although he still used period costume, he no longer claimed historical accuracy for his work in plays. His work in ''King John'' had brought about a "revolution in nineteenth-century stage practice", which lasted for almost a century. In 1828 Planché left Covent Garden and went to work for Stephen Price at
Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmar ...
. His first play during this period, ''Charles XII'', was staged in December of that year and was a great success. Prior to its publication (which would have allowed any theatre to produce it without charge), Planché received an enquiry from Murray, the manager of the
Theatre Royal, Edinburgh The history of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh involves two sites. The first building, on Princes Street, opened 1769 and was rebuilt in 1830 by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. The second site was on Broughton Street. History The first Theatre Royal was ...
who wished to stage the piece. Planché named a "modest sum" of £10 for the privilege which Murray said he could not pay, citing the poor financial situation of his theatre. But he acquired a manuscript copy of the play and staged it without permission. This prompted Planché to begin campaigning for
copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...
to be extended to dramatic works. He gathered a group of dramatists (including John Poole, James Kenney, Joseph Lunn and Richard Brinsley Peak) who prevailed upon writer and MP George Lamb to introduce a bill in Parliament; but the bill did not pass its third reading. In 1832 Edward Bulwer-Lytton, a novelist and MP, was successful in getting a select committee set up to consider dramatic copyright, as well as theatrical censorship and the monopoly of the patent theatres on drama. Planché gave evidence before the select committee; the following year the Dramatic Copyright Act 1833 (3 Will IV c. 15) was passed. In the production of his ''The Brigand'', Planché created '' tableaux vivants'' of three recent paintings by
Charles Eastlake Charles Locke Eastlake (11 March 1836 – 20 November 1906) was a British architect and furniture designer. His uncle, Sir Charles Lock Eastlake PRA (born in 1793), was a Keeper of the National Gallery, from 1843 to 1847, and from 1855 its f ...
: ''An Italian Brigand Chief Reposing'', ''The Wife of a Brigand Chief Watching the Result of a Battle'', and ''The Dying Brigand''. This feature was a success and widely copied. Paintings inspired his work in a number of other plays. For ''The Golden Branch'' (1847) and ''Love and Fortune'' (1859), he created costumes based on the paintings of Watteau. The latter play, which was subtitled ''A Dramatic Tableau (in Watteau Colours)'', also included a ''tableau'' from Watteau's ''Noces de Village''.


Extravaganzas and revues

After a brief period as acting-manager of the Adelphi Theatre, Planché moved to the Olympic Theatre when Lucia Vestris took over the management in 1831. He provided the first play which she produced, ''Olympic Revels, or, Prometheus and Pandora''. This began a professional relationship which lasted over two decades. Planché went with Vestris and her husband, Charles Mathews, when they took over management of Covent Garden in 1839, then with them to Drury Lane in 1842. From 1843 he spent four years at the Haymarket with Benjamin Webster, before returning to Vestris and Matthews at the
Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the ...
, where he stayed until leaving London in 1852. During his time with Vestris, he undertook the roles of "playwright, librettist, general advisor and superintendent of the decorative departments". ''Olympic Revels'' was Planché's first example of "that form of travestie which is commonly described as 'classical'—which deals with the characteristics and adventures of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, of the Greek and Latin mythology and fable", a genre of which he was later credited as originator. Planché used costume for comedic effect, not by the costumes being comic, but by the incongruity of realistic historical dress being juxtaposed with the actions of the actors. For example, ''Olympic Revels'' opens with the gods of Olympus in classical Greek dress playing
whist Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the rules are simple, there is scope for strategic play. History Whist is a descendant of the 16th-century game of ''trump'' ...
. By 1836 these classical burlesques had become so popular that other writers were copying them. Feeling the need to do something different, Planché turned to a translation of the ''féerie folie'' (French: fairy tale) ''Riquet à la Houppe'', which he had written some years earlier. The play was a success, and became the first of 23 "fairy extravaganzas", most of which were based on the fairy tales of Madame d'Aulnoy. Planché's fascination with her work led the press to refer to him as Madame d'Aulnoy's "''preux chevalier''" (French: devoted knight) and similar epithets. Planché's coined the term "extravaganza", defining it as "the whimsical treatment of a poetical subject". In 1879 two of his friends published his extravaganzas, together with some of his other works, as a five-volume set, entitled ''The Extravaganzas of J. R. Planché, esq., (Somerset Herald) 1825–1871''. The fairy tales were not originally children's stories, but sophisticated works intended for an adult audience. Planché's scholarly approach was exhibited in this area as well; he "translated two volumes of fairy tales by Mme D'Aulnoy, Perrault, and others, which were for the first time given in their integrity with biographical and historical notes and dissertations."Planché, ''Recollections and reflections'', II. 154. Borrowing from the French again, Planché introduced the
revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...
to British theatre,Planché, ''Recollections and Reflections'', I. 73. as a commentary on recent events, particularly events in the theatre. His first revue, ''Success; or, a hit if you like it'', was produced in 1825. He wrote another seven over the next 30 years, a peak of four in the years 1853–1855. As an example of the style of these works, ''Mr Buckstone's Voyage Round the Globe'' (1854), which played at the
Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foot ...
, includes the words:


Retirement and legacy

Planché semi-retired from the theatre in 1852 and went to live in Kent with his younger daughter (although he returned to London two years later on his appointment as Rouge Croix Pursuivant). He continued to write occasionally for the theatre, but only produced 16 more pieces between 1852 and 1871. Critics writing at the end of the nineteenth century praised Planché with sentiments such as " lanchéraised theatrical extravaganza and burlesque to the dignity of a fine art, and wrote verses to be sung on the stage which could be read with pleasure in the study." and "I am quite certain that such masters of lyrical writing as W. S. Gilbert ... would confirm me in my opinion that the songs and lyrics in the extravaganzas of Planché were as faultless in tone, tact and taste as they were rhythmically perfect". (The converse was also true; Planché approved of, and strongly influenced Gilbert's works) Planché's dramatic reputation was already fading before his death, and continued to do so in the twentieth century. He is still remembered for his influence on and contributions to British theatre over a long career.


Antiquarian career

Planché's research to determine historically accurate costume for the 1823 production of ''King John'' led to his developing a strong interest in the subject. When he published his first major work in 1834, ''History of British Costume from the Earliest Period to the Close of the 18th Century'', Planché described it as "the result of ten years' diligent devotion to its study of every leisure hour left me by my professional engagements". Prior to this Planché had published his costume designs for ''King John'' and the other Shakespeare plays, with "biographical, critical and explanatory notices". After travelling twice to the Continent, he wrote about his journeys in ''Lays and Legends of the Rhine'' (1826) and ''Descent of the Danube'' (1827). Planché's scholarship was recognised in his election in 1829 as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He was a regular attendee at the Society's meetings and contributed to its journal, ''Archaeologia''. However, he became dissatisfied with its management, complaining of "the lethargy into which the Society of Antiquaries had fallen, the dreariness of its meetings, the want of interest in its communications and the reluctance of its council to listen to any suggestions for its improvement". In 1843–4 Planché was involved in the foundation of the
British Archaeological Association The British Archaeological Association (BAA) was founded in 1843 and aims to inspire, support and disseminate high quality research in the fields of Western archaeology, art and architecture, primarily of the mediaeval period, through lectures, con ...
, of which he was later Vice-President, and for more than twenty years the Secretary.Obituary, ''Journal of the British Archaeological Association'', p. 263. Planché resigned his membership of the Society of Antiquaries in 1852, in which year he also moved to Kent to live with his younger daughter. Besides his ''History of British Costume'', Planché contributed to a number of other works on costume. He wrote an article on "The History of Stage Costume" in ''The Book of Table Talk'', edited by Charles MacFarlane, in 1836. He also provided the chapters on costume and furniture for ''The Pictorial History of England'' by MacFarlane and George Craik, as well as an introduction on costume for most of the plays in ''The Pictorial Edition of the Works of Shakespeare'' by Charles Knight. In 1842–43 Planché edited ''Regal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of England'' and ''A Complete View of the Dresses and Habits of the People of England'' by Joseph Strutt. In 1848 he contributed "Remarks on some of his sketches for Masques and dramas" to Peter Cunningham's '' Inigo Jones: A Life of the Architect''. In 1879 Planché completed his most ambitious work on costume history, ''A Cyclopedia of Costume, or, Dictionary of Dress'', two volumes totalling almost 1000 pages. Planché's expertise in historical dress was not only of interest to his fellow antiquarians. During her reign
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...
held a number of ''bals costumés'' at which the attendees had to wear costume of a specified era. Planché's advice was much in demand in the periods leading up to these balls as invited guests had costumes made. His antiquarian interests also included
armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
. In 1834 he published ''A Catalogue of the Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, the property of Bernard Brocas, with a prefatory notice''. In 1857 Planché was invited to arrange the collection of armour formerly belonging to his friend Sir Samuel Meyrick for the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester, a task which he repeated in South Kensington in 1868. Concerned by the state of the armour in the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...
, Planché wrote several reports on the subject between 1855 and 1869. In that year, the War Office invited him to rearrange the collection in chronological order, which was one of the things for which he had been campaigning. Among his works on other topics were two with royal connections—''Regal Records, or a Chronicle of the Coronation of the Queens Regnant of England,'' prompted by the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837, and '' The Conqueror and his Companions'', published in two volumes in 1874. Planché's personal life inspired two works. In 1864 he published ''A Corner of Kent, or some account of the parish of Ash-next-Sandwich'', the result of three years' work on what was originally intended as a short guidebook to antiquities within the parish of his son-in-law, the Rev. Henry Mackarness.Planché, ''Recollections and Reflections'', II. 228. In 1872 he published his autobiography, a two-volume work entitled ''The Recollections and Reflections of J. R. Planché (Somerset Herald): a professional biography'', containing many anecdotes of his life in the theatre. In addition, Planché produced over 100 papers and articles on a wide range of topics. His obituary in the ''Journal of the British Archaeological Association'' mentions in passing such topics as the following:
Naval uniforms of Great Britain, early armorial bearings, processional weapons, horn-shaped headdresses of the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the clarion, the Stanley crest, ancient and medieval tapestries, armorials of Ferres and Peverel, the Cokayne
monuments A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, hist ...
at Ashbourne, the tilting and other helmets, the family of Giffard, the Earls of Strigul (the Lords of Chepstow), relics of Charles I, the Earls and Dukes of Somerset, the statuary of the west front of
Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as ...
, various
effigies An effigy is an often life-size sculptural representation of a specific person, or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certai ...
, brasses and portraits, the first Earl of Norfolk, the family of Fettiplace, monuments in
Shrewsbury Abbey The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Shrewsbury (commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey) is an ancient foundation in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The Abbey was founded in 1083 as a Benedictine monastery by the Norm ...
, the Neville monuments, the
Earls of Sussex Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel (up to 1243) were often also called Earls of Sussex. The fifth creation came in the Peer ...
, of
Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east of ...
and of
Hereford Hereford () is a cathedral city, civil parish and the county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, south-west of Worcester and north-west of Gloucester. With a populatio ...
, and the
Fairford Fairford is a town in Gloucestershire, England. The town lies in the Cotswold hills on the River Coln, east of Cirencester, west of Lechlade and north of Swindon. Nearby are RAF Fairford and the Cotswold Water Park. History Evidence of s ...
windows.


Heraldic career

His antiquarian studies led Planché to take an interest in heraldry. He had published several papers on heraldic topics in the ''Journal of the British Archaeological Association'' before publishing in 1852 ''The Pursuivant of Arms, or, Heraldry founded upon facts''. As indicated by the subtitle, Planché was concerned with verifiable facts, as opposed to the unfounded theories perpetuated by many earlier heraldic writers. In the view of eminent herald
Sir Anthony Wagner Sir Anthony Richard Wagner (6 September 1908 – 5 May 1995) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He served as Garter Principal King of Arms before retiring to the post of Clarenceux King of Arms. He was one of ...
, Planché rewrote the early history of heraldry. Two years later a vacancy occurred at the
College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...
, the office responsible for administering English heraldic affairs. Planché was offered, and accepted, the position of '' Rouge Croix Pursuivant'', one of the four junior-most
officers of arms An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions: * to control and initiate armorial matters; * to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state; * to conserve ...
. Some years previously he had indicated his interest in becoming an officer of arms, should a vacancy arise, to the
Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. The dukes ...
, who as
Earl Marshal Earl marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England (then, following the Act of Union 1800, in the United Kingdom). He is the eight ...
is responsible for the College of Arms. Planché was also an acquaintance of Charles Young, Garter King of Arms, the principal officer of arms at the college. Planché moved back to London on becoming ''Rouge Croix''. For three years from the end of 1856, he focused on the duties of his new office and his scholarly pursuits. Planché's new office also carried with it ceremonial duties. On four occasions he was part of diplomatic missions to invest foreign monarchs with the
Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, outranked in ...
: to King
Pedro V of Portugal Peter V ( pt, Pedro V ; 16 September 1837 – 11 November 1861), nicknamed "the Hopeful" ( pt, o Esperançoso), was King of Portugal from 1853 to 1861. Early life and reign As the eldest son of Queen Maria II and King Ferdinand II, Peter was a ...
in 1858, and his successor King Luis in 1865, to Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria in 1867 and to King Umberto I of Italy in 1878. Planché also participated in state ceremonial within England; in 1856 he and other officers of arms proclaimed peace following the conclusion of the Crimean War. This was supposed to take place "according to precedent", but the 'stage management' of the event left something to be desired; among other things the gates at Temple Bar, where the officers of arms customarily demand entry to the
City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
, were left open. In 1866 Planché was promoted to the office of Somerset Herald. For most of that year he was engaged in editing ''Clarke's Introduction to Heraldry''. During his heraldic duties, Planché came across a hitherto-neglected manuscript in the collections of the College of Arms; this became known as "Planché's Roll", since he was the first to draw attention to it. He also left another heraldic legacy; Ursula Cull, the wife of future Garter King of Arms Sir George Bellew, was a descendant of Planché's daughter Matilda.Godfrey, ''The College of Arms'', p. 164.


Coat of arms

Planché was granted arms in 1857, a few years after his appointment as Rouge Croix pursuivant. These are
blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visu ...
ed: * (Arms) ''Vert a Tower Proper between three Roundels Argent each charged with a Cross Gules''. * (Crest) ''A Demi-Lion rampant guardant Argent billetty Gules holding between the paws a silver Roundel charged as in the arms'' * (Motto) ''En poursuivant la vérité'' The ''Roundels Argent charged with a Cross Gules'' (white circles with a red cross) allude to the badge of office of Rouge Croix. Planché used his coat of arms on his bookplate, and the crest alone on his writing paper. When he was promoted to Somerset Herald, Planché surrounded the crest on his writing paper with a collar of Esses. While he was entitled to the collar by his appointment as herald, its inclusion in his armorial bearings was considered somewhat unusual.


Works

* ''Costumes of Shakespeare's King John, &c., by J. K. Meadows and G. Scharf, with biographical, critical, and explanatory notices,'' 1823–25, 5 parts. * ''Shere Afkun, the first husband of Nourmahal, a legend of Hindoostan,'' 1823. * ''Lays and Legends of the Rhine'', 1827 * ''Descent of the Danube from Ratisbon to Vienna,'' 1828. * ''A Catalogue of the Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, the property of Bernard Brocas, with a prefatory notice,'' 1834. * ''History of British Costume from the Earliest Period to the Close of the 18th Century'', 1834. * ''Regal Records, or a Chronicle of the Coronation of the Queens Regnant of England,'' 1838. * ''The Pursuivant of Arms, or Heraldry founded upon Facts,'' 1852. * ''King Nut Cracker, a fairy tale from the German of A. H. Hoffmann,'' translated 1853. * ''Fairy Tales by the Countess d'Aulnoy,'' translated 1855, 2nd edit. 1888. * ''Four-and-twenty Fairy Tales selected from those of Perrault and other popular writers,'' 1858. * ''A Corner of Kent, or some account of the parish of Ash-next-Sandwich,'' 1864. * ''An Introduction to Heraldry by H. Clark,'' edited 1866. * ''Pieces of Pleasantry for private performance during the Christmas Holidays,'' 1868. * ''The Recollections and Reflections of J. R. Planché (Somerset Herald): a professional biography; in two volumes'' 1872. * ''William with the Ring, a romance in rhyme,'' 1873. * ''The Conqueror and his Companions,'' 1874, 2 vols. * ''A Cyclopaedia of Costume, or Dictionary of Dress,'' 1876–9, 2 vols. * ''Suggestions for establishing an English Art Theatre,'' 1879. * ''The Extravaganzas of J. R. Planché, esq., (Somerset Herald) 1825–1871'' 1879, 5 vols. * ''Songs and Poems,'' 1881.All the works in this list are given in Boase, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', except where otherwise indicated.


Notes


References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Obituary, ''The Literary Gazette'', 3 October 1846, p. 859 * Obituary, ''The Illustrated London News'', 5 June 1880, p. 557 * Obituary, ''The New York Times'', 15 June 1880, p. 3 *


External links

* * * * Works with text by Planché o
IMSLP
{{DEFAULTSORT:Planche, James 1796 births 1880 deaths English officers of arms English genealogists Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London 19th-century English dramatists and playwrights Writers from London English male dramatists and playwrights 19th-century English male writers English male non-fiction writers English people of French descent