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 Sovereign and are delegated authority to act on behalf of the Crown in all matters of heraldry,the granting of new coats of arms,genealogical research and the recording of pedigrees. The College is also the official body responsible for matters relating to the flying of flags on land,and it maintains the official registers of flags and other national symbols. Though a part of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom,the College is self-financed,unsupported by any public funds.
Sir Albert William Woods was an English officer of arms,who served as Garter Principal King of Arms from 1869 to 1904. The Woods family has a strong tradition of service at the College of Arms. Albert Woods was the son of Sir William Woods,Garter King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842. Likewise,the grandson of Albert Woods was Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston,who also rose to the rank of Garter King of Arms and served there from 1930 until 1944.
Sir Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones was a long-serving Officer of Arms at the College of Arms in London. He was Garter Principal King of Arms,the senior English officer of arms,from 1995 to 2010.
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms,and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms,the heraldic authority with jurisdiction over England,Wales and Northern Ireland. The position has existed since 1415.
John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little was an English writer on heraldic subjects,and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947,while still a student,Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries,now known as the Heraldry Society and recognised as one of the leading learned societies in its field. He served as the society's chairman for 50 years and then as its president from 1997 until his death in 2006.
David Vines White,a member of the Royal Household,has since 2021 served as Garter Principal King of Arms.
Sir Alexander Colin ColeFRHSC (Hon) was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Eventually,he would rise to the rank of Garter Principal King of Arms,the highest heraldic office in England.
The Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society was formed as the result of the merger in 1957 of a previous Heraldic Society with the Cambridge University Society of Genealogists.
David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre was a British officer of arms.
Sir Thomas Woodcock Hon FRHSC is a genealogist who served as Garter Principal King of Arms at the College of Arms from 2010 to 2021.
Sir Henry Farnham Burke,(1859–1930) was a long-serving Anglo-Irish officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.
Sir George Rothe Bellew,,styled The Honourable after 1935,was a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. Educated at the University of Oxford,he was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant in 1922. Having been Somerset Herald for 24 years,he was promoted to the office of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1950,the highest heraldic office in England and Wales. He served in that capacity until his resignation in 1961. As Garter,Bellew oversaw the funeral of George VI,proclaimed the late King's daughter,Elizabeth II,as Queen and took a leading role in the organisation of her Coronation in 1953. After his retirement,Bellew was Secretary of the Order of the Garter and Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor. He lived for many years at Dower House in Old Windsor,Berkshire,but later moved to Farnham and died in 1993,aged 93.
Sir Charles Townley was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.
John Writhe was a long-serving English officer of arms. He was probably the son of William Writhe,who represented the borough of Cricklade in the Parliament of 1450–51,and is most remembered for being the first Garter King of Arms to preside over the College of Arms. Writhe is also notable for the contention that it was he who developed the system of heraldic cadency employed by English officers of arms to the present day.
Sir Thomas Wriothesley was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the son of Garter King of Arms,John Writhe,and he succeeded his father in this office.
Ralph Bigland was an English officer of arms,antiquarian and cheesemaker. He was born at Stepney,Middlesex,and was the only son of Richard Bigland and his wife,Mary. His father was a native of Westmorland,descended from the Bigland family of Biglands. He should not be confused with his nephew Sir Ralph Bigland.
Thomas Hawley was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He began his career of royal service as a groom porter to Queen Margaret of Scotland from her marriage in 1503 until 1508. Although he may have been made Rose Blanche Pursuivant in the reign of King Henry VII,his first permanent heraldic appointment came in 1509.
Thomas Benolt was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. As part of his service,he was also a diplomat. He appears to have been born at Rouen,though his family had stronger links with Calais. Benolt is thought to have been raised in that city,and his brother at one time became its secretary. Thomas Benolt is reported to have served Kings Edward IV and Richard III as a pursuivant,but these claims cannot be substantiated. The first definitive evidence of his royal service is an appointment as Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary on 6 May 1504. Six years later,he was promoted to the post of Norroy King of Arms and on 30 January 1511 he was made Clarenceux King of Arms.
Sir William Segar was a portrait painter and officer of arms to the court of Elizabeth I of England;he became Garter King of Arms under James I.
Robert Cooke was an English Officer of Arms during the reign of Elizabeth I,who rose swiftly through the ranks of the College of Arms to Clarenceux King of Arms,serving in that office from 1567 until his death in 1592–3.
