Albany Herald

Last updated

Albany Herald
Badge of the Albany Herald.svg
The heraldic badge of Albany Herald of Arms
 
Heraldic tradition Gallo-British
Jurisdiction Scotland
Governing body Court of the Lord Lyon

Albany Herald of Arms is a Scottish herald of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Contents

The office was first mentioned in a diplomatic mission from Scotland to England in 1401. The office was probably instituted on the creation of Robert Stewart, son of King Robert II, as Duke of Albany, on 28 April 1398. Albany is an old name for the part of Scotland north of the River Forth, and is cognate with "Alba", the Scottish Gaelic for Scotland.

The badge of office is A saltire Argent enfiled of a coronet of four fleurs-de-lys (one and two halves visible) Or ensigned of the Crown of Scotland Proper. [1]

The office is currently held by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw.

Holders of the office

ArmsNameDate of appointmentRef [2]
William Bailly1452
William Brown of Balmangan1516
William Brown1546
John Balfour1558
Arms of Oliphant of that Ilk.svg Alexander Oliphant1565
Arms of Oliphant of that Ilk.svg Thomas Oliphant1604
George Kirkwood1610
Robert Winram1613
Gideon Weir1637
Arms of James Lockhart.svg James Lockhart1661
George Ogilvie1677
James Barr1694
Robert Leslie1723
Arms of Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, Baronet.svg Sir John Erskine of Cambo, Baronet1726
Humphrey Harrison1754
John Man1766
Arms of John Douglas.svg John Douglas1768
James Mitchell1795
John Young1827
David Littlejohn1837
James Sinclair1859
Vacant1878–83
John Spence1883
Robert Spence Livingstone1885
Arms of William Rae MacDonald.svg William Rae Macdonald 1909
Arms of George Sitwell Campbell Swinton.svg Sir George Sitwell Campbell-Swinton 1923–1926
Arms of Haig of Bemersyde.svg Sir Thomas Wolseley Haig 1927–1935
Arms of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.svg Thomas Innes of Learney 1935–1945
Arms of Sir Francis James Grant.svg Sir Francis James Grant 1945–1953
Arms of Charles Ian Fraser of Reelig.svg Major Charles Ian Fraser of Reelig 1953–1961 [3]
Arms of Moncreiffe of that Ilk.svg Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Baronet1961–1985 [4]
John Alexander Spens 1985–2011 [5]
Vacant2011–2021
Arms of Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw.svg Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt., LVO 2021–Present (in Extraordinary) [6] [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

Lord Lyon King of Arms Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry

The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in daily operation.

Thomas Innes of Learney Scottish officer of arms

Sir Thomas Innes of Learney (1893–1971) was Lord Lyon from 1945 to 1969, after having been Carrick Pursuivant and Albany Herald in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a very active Lord Lyon, strongly promoting his views of what his office was through his writings and pronouncements in his Court. In 1950, he convinced the Scots Law Times to start publishing the decisions made in Lyon Court. By ruling on uncontested petitions, he was able to expound many of his theories in court but not under review of his superior court, and get them published in the judicial record. His treatise, Scots Heraldry, was first published in 1934 when he was Carrick Pursuivant; then a second, enlarged edition came out in 1956, and it has practically eclipsed earlier works on the subject. Following his retirement as Lord Lyon in 1969, he was appointed Marchmont Herald, and continued as Secretary of the Order of the Thistle until 1971.

Carrick Pursuivant Scottish title

Carrick Pursuivant of Arms is a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Rothesay Herald

Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Unicorn Pursuivant Scottish pursuivant of arms

Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Ross Herald

Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a Scottish herald of arms Extraordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon. The office is however held in Extraordinary after the retirement of the last holder in Ordinary.

Bute Pursuivant Scottish officer of arms

Bute Pursuivant of Arms was a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records

Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is a legal and heraldic office in Scotland. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms receives an annual salary. Lyon Clerk's duties include heraldic research, the preparation of papers, lectures and conducting and assisting with the preliminary business of application for a grant or matriculation of armorial bearings. This includes scrutiny of documents supporting the application. As Keeper of the Records the duties include maintaining the records of the Court of the Lord Lyon, overseeing the preparation of documents, allowing inspection of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland and other records, and issuing certified extracts when required. Until 1867 there was a Lyon Clerk Depute, and in 1986 Elizabeth Ann Roads became the first woman appointed to the office of Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records.

Dingwall Pursuivant

Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Kintyre Pursuivant

Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms was a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Ormond Pursuivant

Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Linlithgow Pursuivant

Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms is a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Snawdoun Herald

Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Islay Herald

Islay Herald of Arms is a Scottish herald of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Marchmont Herald

Marchmont Herald of Arms is a current Scottish herald of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon

March Pursuivant

March Pursuivant of Arms is a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Falkland Pursuivant

Falkland Pursuivant of Arms is a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Court of the Lord Lyon Court which regulates heraldry in Scotland

The Court of the Lord Lyon is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of genealogies.

Angus Herald

Angus Herald of Arms in Extraordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms in Extraordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Orkney Herald

Orkney Herald of Arms is a Scottish herald of arms in the Court of the Lord Lyon.

References

  1. Roads, Elizabeth Ann. "Badges of the Scottish Officers of Arms". The Double Tressure (20 1998): 77–86.
  2. Grant, Sir Francis James (1945). Court of the Lord Lyon: List of His Majesty's Officers of Arms and Other Officials with Genealogical Notes, 1318-1945. Society.
  3. "No. 17054". The Edinburgh Gazette . 17 March 1953. p. 143.
  4. "No. 17888". The Edinburgh Gazette . 30 December 1960. p. 815.
  5. "No. 21710". The Edinburgh Gazette . 2 April 1985. p. 482.
  6. "New Appointments at the Lyon Court". New Appointments at the Lyon Court. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. "albany". www.courtofthelordlyon.scot. Retrieved 1 September 2021.