1810

July 22^nd

Marriage of Christian Sellé and Elizabeth Underwood at St George’s, Hanover Square, London

1813

July 9^th

Sellé born in Suffolk

1813

August 1st

Baptism at Benhall parish church, Suffolk of Christian William Sellé: parents listed as Christian Sellé, a musician, and his wife Elizabeth

1828

15

Sellé in constant attendance on Prince George of Cumberland from this date [Letter to The Times 1878]: ‘[The Prince was] his first royal pupil...for whom he wrote a composition, and with whom he was an intimate guest for several weeks at a time’ [RH 12/11/98]

1832?

August

19

Sellé present when Sir Watkin Wheeler told the surgeon Dr George Cooper that nothing could be done to save the sight of Prince George  of Cumberland following an accident

1833

April 23rd

19

Sellé’s mother died ‘in her 48th year’. She is buried in the churchyard of St Anne’s, Kew

1835

July 20th

22

Married Selina Daniel at Christchurch, Southwark [her age was 17 - actually 19 - according to the RH 12/11/1898]

1836

23?

Sellé’s son Christian William baptised at Kew

1839

26?

Sellé’s daughter Selina Elizabeth baptised at Kew

1840

27?

Sellé’s son and daughter both die and are buried in the same grave as Sellé’s mother at St Anne’s, Kew

1841

June 6th

27

Census

1845

Feb. 20th

31

Appointed Organist of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace

1850s

37-47

A musical directory lists him as a teacher of organ and piano [RAM]

1851

March 30th

37

Census: at 5 Old Palace Terrace, Richmond Green (aged 37)

1852

Nov. 4th

39

Letter to The Times, in response to criticism of the conduct of visitors to Hampton Court printed 2 days earlier

1853

40?

Letter pleading for a permanent choir at Hampton Court

1853-56

40-43

Organised a concert at Hampton Court in aid of the Crimean [War] Relief Fund. This took place in the Great Hall and prompted the Hall,  which till then had been used as a store for general lumber, being  opened to the public [RTT 19/11/1898]

1857

Nov 24th

44

Awarded a Lambeth Mus Doc by Archbishop Sumner [Lambeth Palace Archives], ‘through Dr Corfe of Christchurch, Oxford’ [RH 12/11/1898]

1857

November

44

Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (then aged 24) taught by Sellé. She comments in her diary on Sellé’s doctorate [Royal Archives]. Sellé also taught her brother The Duke of Cambridge (1819-1904) at some point [RH 12/11/1898]

1861

April 7th

47

Census: at 5 Old Palace Terrace, Richmond Green (aged 47)

1863

50

Published an article, entitled ‘Hints to Musical Students who are desirous of appreciating high art” [RTT 19/11/1898]

1863

50

Spoke at the Castle Rooms about “the modern rubbish which passes  current for music” [RTT 19/11/1898]

1866

June 12th

52

Sellé chosen to play the organ at the marriage of his pupil Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge to HSH Prince Franz of Teck at St Anne’s, Kew [RH 12/11/1898]. Queen Victoria and Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) attended [Kew Past - drawing of the event]. (After their marriage the Prince and Princess of Teck lived at  Kensington Palace - did Sellé teach her until then?)

1867

Sept. 26th

54

Sellé’s father died at Kew

1871

April 2nd

57

Census: at 5 Old Palace Terrace, Richmond Green (aged  57)

1878

July 3rd

64

Letter to The Times giving details of the accident which caused the  loss of sight of Prince George of Cumberland

1881

April 3rd

67

Census: at 5 Old Palace Terrace, Richmond Green (aged 67) (2 female servants)

1883

70

Unsuccessful attempt to bring about the Sunday opening of the Public Library, of whose committee he was a member [RTT 19/11/1898]

1886?

73?

Retired as Organist at Hampton Court ‘with a pension’ [RH 12/11/1898]

1891

April 5th

77

Census: at 5 Old Palace Terrace, Richmond Green (aged 78)

1897

Dec. 13th

84

Sellé made his last will and testament: address ‘3 Hermitage Road, Richmond’

1898

Nov. 8th

85

Sellé died at The Greyhound Hotel, Richmond (Tuesday)

1898

Nov. 12th

Sellé buried at noon at Richmond Cemetery [RH of that date; Philpott’s Hampton Court music list]

1898

Article about Sellé printed in the Richmond Herald and in the Richmond & Twickenham Times

1898

Nov. 19th

‘Recollections of Dr Selle’ printed in the Richmond & Twickenham Times