The Duchess of Richmond’s Ball, 15 June, 1815

David Miller's book is a detailed monograph on a famous historical event, the remarkable 'Duchess of Richmond's ball' which took place the night before Waterloo. His wish list of questions in the introduction is admirable: Why did it take place and where? Who actually attended and what happened? Indeed, who were the Duke and Duchess of Richmond? As ever with events of the Napoleonic period, there is much that is myth that surrounds this ball. Mr Miller picks with skill through the material and gives a clear account of the events. The biographical sketches of many of those present at the ball are of particular, as are the maps showing Belgium, Brussels and the Richmonds' chateau respectively. Also included are six appendices (three detailed guest lists, statistics regarding the numbers of military men invited and the percentages of them who died the following day, a discussion of Wellington's affair with Lady Frances (Wedderburn-Webster) and Major General Maitland's elopement. The book ends with a bibliography and index.
 
David Miller is author of Lady De Lancey at Waterloo: a story of duty and devotion (Spellmount 2000)
 
Contents:
I Belgium
II The Richmond Family
III The English arrive
IV Brussels: 1814-March 1815
V Romances
VI Brussels: March-June 1815
VII Invitations to the Ball
VIII Continental guests
IX English civilian guests
X English officers of the Royal navy, Diplomatic Corps and retired army
XI The English military guests
XII The location of the ball
XIII The ball
XIV Envoi
 
Appendices
A The Goodwood list
B The De Ros List
C The Delhaize list
D Statistics
E The Wedderburn-Webster affair
F Major-General Maitland's elopement