Prior to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, nearly all Lord Chancellors were peers of the realm (if not already, then ennobled swiftly after taking office) and the principal presiding officer of the upper house of Parliament - now taken by the Lord Speaker. Shields of arms of former Chancellors are painted on the coving of the chamber (beneath the railings of the public viewing galleries) interspersed with the shields of arms of the monarchs whom they served. [1] [2]
| Arms | Name of Chancellor (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon |
|---|---|
 | William Cowper, 1st Baron Cowper, Lord Chancellor 1707–1710 and 1714-1718 Escutcheon:Argent three martlets Gules on a chief engrailed of the last three annulets Or. |
 | Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, Lord Chancellor 1710–1714 Escutcheon:Gules two bars Or. [4] |
 | Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor 1718–1725 Escutcheon:Gules a chevron between three leopard faces Or. |
 | Peter King, 1st Baron King, Lord Chancellor 1725–1733 Escutcheon: Sable three spear heads Argent imbrued Proper on a chief Or three battle-axes Azure. |
 | Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot, Lord Chancellor 1733–1737 Escutcheon:Gules a lion rampant within a bordure engrailed Or. |
 | Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor 1737–1756 Escutcheon:Argent on a saltire Azure a bezant. |
 | Robert Henley, 1st Earl of Northington, Lord Chancellor 1757–1766 Escutcheon:Azure, a lion rampant argent ducally crowned or a bordure of the second charged with eight torteaux. |
 | Charles Pratt, 1st Baron Camden, Lord Chancellor 1766–1770 Escutcheon:Quarterly 1st & 4th, Sable, on a Fess Argent, between three Elephant’s Heads erased Argent, three Mullets Sable (Pratt); 2nd, Sable, a Chevron between three Spear Heads Argent, the points embrued (Jeffreys), 3rd, Gules, an Inescutcheon Vair, between eight Cross-Crosslets Or (Molesworth). |
| | Charles Yorke, Lord Chancellor 1770 Escutcheon:Quarterly: 1st & 4th Argent on a saltire Azure a bezant 2nd & 3rd Sable a lion rampant guardant Or between three escallops Argent. |
 | Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, Lord Chancellor 1771–1778 Escutcheon:Sable two bars Ermine in chief three crosses pattée Or. |
 | Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow, Lord Chancellor 1778–1792 Escutcheon:Argent on a chevron cottised Sable three portcullises of the field. |
| | Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Baron Loughborough, Lord Chancellor 1793–1801 Escutcheon:Argent, on a Chevron between three Roses Gules, a Fleur-de-lys of the field for difference. |
| Arms | Name of Chancellor (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon |
|---|---|
 | John Scott, 1st Baron Eldon, Lord Chancellor 1801–1806 and 1807-1827 Escutcheon:Argent, three Lion’s Heads erased Gules, in chief an Anchor erect Sable, on a Chief wavy Azure, a Portcullis with chains Or. |
 | Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, Lord Chancellor 1806–1807 Escutcheon:Argent a pale Sable. |
 | John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst, Lord Chancellor 1827–1830, 1834-1835 and 1841-1846 Escutcheon:Sable, on a Bend Or, between two Nag's Heads erased Argent, three Fleurs-de-lis Sable. |
 | Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, Lord Chancellor 1830–1834 Escutcheon:Gules a chevron between three lucies hauriant Argent. |
 | Charles Pepys, 1st Baron Cottenham, Lord Chancellor 1836–1841 Escutcheon:Sable, on a Bend Or, between two Nag's Heads erased Argent, three Fleurs-de-lis Sable. |
 | Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro, Lord Chancellor 1850–1852 Crest:A hart lodged with a rose in its mouth Proper. |
 | Edward Sugden, 1st Baron St Leonards, Lord Chancellor 1852 Crest:A leopard's head erased Sable spotted and gorged with a baron's Coronet Or. |
 | Robert Rolfe, 1st Baron Cranworth, Lord Chancellor 1852–1858 and 1865-1866 Crest:A dove Argent in the beak a sprig of olive Proper ducally gorged Gules and resting the dexter foot upon three annulets interlaced Or. |
 | Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford, Lord Chancellor 1858–1859 Crest:A cornucopia fesswise the horn Or the fruit Proper thereon a dove holding in the beak a sprig of laurel also Proper. |
 | John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell, Lord Chancellor 1859–1861 Escutcheon:Gyronny of eight Sable and Or a border engrailed quarterly Or and Azure charged with eight buckles countercharged. |
 | Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury, Lord Chancellor 1861–1865 Escutcheon:Argent, on a chevron, engrailed azure, between three boars' heads couped sable, an estoile or, all within a bordure of the third |
 | Hugh Cairns, 1st Baron Cairns, Lord Chancellor 1868 and 1874-1880 Escutcheon:Gules three martlets Argent within a bordure of the second charged with three trefoils slipped Vert. |
| | William Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley, Lord Chancellor 1868–1872 Escutcheon:Quarterly Argent and Or the sceptre or mace representing that of the Lord Mayor of the City of London (the same being of crystal the head terminating in crosses patties and fleurs-de-lis and the whole richly ornamented with gold, pearls, and precious stones) in pale, between an oak tree on a mount Vert fructed Proper in the 1st and 4th quarters; and in the 2nd and 3rd a bull's head erased, Sable, charged on the neck with a bezant. |
 | Roundell Palmer, 1st Baron Selborne, Lord Chancellor 1872–1874 and 1880-1885 Escutcheon:Argent on two bars Sable three trefoils slipped of the field in chief a greyhound courant of the second collard Or. |
 | Hardinge Giffard, 1st Baron Halsbury, Lord Chancellor 1885–1886, 1886-1892 and 1895-1905 Escutcheon:Sable three fusils conjoined in fess Ermine |
 | Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell, Lord Chancellor 1886 and 1892-1895 Escutcheon:Per fess Azure and Sable a fasces fesswise between three stags’ heads couped Or. |
| Arms | Name of Chancellor (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon |
|---|---|
 | Robert Reid, 1st Baron Loreburn, Lord Chancellor 1905–1912 Escutcheon:Azure a lion rampant Argent on a chief engrailed Or a book expanded Proper between two keys in saltire Gules and two swords in saltire of the last. |
 | Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane, Lord Chancellor 1912–1915 and 1924 Crest:An eagle’s head erased Or. |
 | Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Baron Buckmaster, Lord Chancellor 1915–1916 Crest:A Demi-Lion Azure holding in the dexter paw a Fleur-de-lis and charged on the shoulder with a Portcullis both Or. |
 | Robert Finlay, 1st Baron Finlay, Lord Chancellor 1916–1919 Blazon not available. [15] |
 | Frederick Smith, 1st Viscount Birkenhead, Lord Chancellor 1919–1922 Crest:A cubit arm couped fessways vested Gules cuffed Argent the hand Proper grasping a sword erect also Argent pommel and hilt Or. |
 | George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, Lord Chancellor 1922–1924 and 1924-1928 Escutcheon:Or fretty Azure a cross moline within a bordure nebuly Gules on a chief of the last two greyhounds' heads erased of the first. |
 | Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham, Lord Chancellor 1928–1929 and 1935-1938 Crest:A Stag proper gorged with a Collar Argent charged with three Lozenges conjoined Gules and supporting with the dexter leg an Escutcheon also Argent charged with four Lozenges conjoined in fess Gules between two Barrulets Sable and in chief a Rose also Gules. |
 | John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey, Lord Chancellor 1929–1935 Blazon not available. [20] |
 | Frederic Maugham, Baron Maugham, Lord Chancellor 1938–1939 |
 | Thomas Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote, Lord Chancellor 1939–1940 Crest: Upon the battlements of a tower a grouse’s leg erased Proper. |
 | John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon, Lord Chancellor 1940–1945 Crest: Upon a well Proper an eagle rising Or. |
 | William Jowitt, 1st Viscount Jowitt, Lord Chancellor 1945–1951 Crest: A lion sejant guardant Gules the dexter forepaw supporting an escutcheon of the arms |
 | Gavin Simonds, Baron Simonds, Lord Chancellor 1951–1954 Crest:An Ermine proper resting the sinister paw upon the Astronomical Sign of Taurus Sable and holding in the mouth a Trefoil slipped Or. |
 | David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Viscount Kilmuir, Lord Chancellor 1954–1962 Crest:A Demi-Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure between six Ears of Wheat Or three on each side. |
 | Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Baron Dilhorne, Lord Chancellor 1962–1964 Escutcheon:Sable, on a cross argent quarter pierced of the field four eagles displayed of the first. [28] |
 | Gerald Gardiner, Baron Gardiner, Lord Chancellor 1964–1970 Crest:A Stag proper gorged with a Collar Argent charged with three Lozenges conjoined Gules and supporting with the dexter leg an Escutcheon also Argent charged with four Lozenges conjoined in fess Gules between two Barrulets Sable and in chief a Rose also Gules. |
| | Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, Lord Chancellor 1970–1974 and 1979-1987 Crest:A Stag proper gorged with a Collar Argent charged with three Lozenges conjoined Gules and supporting with the dexter leg an Escutcheon also Argent charged with four Lozenges conjoined in fess Gules between two Barrulets Sable and in chief a Rose also Gules. |
 | Elwyn Jones, Baron Elwyn-Jones, Lord Chancellor 1974–1979 Escutcheon:Per saltire Gules and barry wavy Argent and Azure two crane arms in saltire the hooks pendant between in chief a portcullis chained and in base a balance Or. |
 | Michael Havers, Baron Havers, Lord Chancellor 1987–1987 Blazon not available. [32] |
 | James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern, Lord Chancellor 1987–1997 Crest:A Dexter Arm couped at the Elbow proper the hand grasping a Pair of Balances Or. |
 | Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg, Lord Chancellor 1997–2003 Escutcheon:Argent three holly leaves Proper on a chief Azure two bears' heads couped of the first muzzled Gules. |
| Arms | Name of Chancellor (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon |
|---|---|
 | Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton, Lord Chancellor 2003–2007 Escutcheon:Per pale Or and Argent two barrulets per pale Ermine and Erminois over all a falcon's head erased Azure grasping in the beak pendent a Mediterranean sweet briar rose affronty Proper slipped Sable all between three mullets Azure. |
 | Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor 2007–2010 No arms known |
| | Kenneth Clarke (later Baron Clarke of Nottingham), Lord Chancellor 2010–2012 No arms known |
| | Chris Grayling (later Baron Grayling), Lord Chancellor 2012–2015 No arms known |
| | Michael Gove, Lord Chancellor 2015–2016 No arms known |
| | Liz Truss, Lord Chancellor 2016–2017 No arms known |
| | David Lidington, Lord Chancellor 2017–2018 No arms known |
| | David Gauke, Lord Chancellor 2018–2019 No arms known |
| | Robert Buckland, Lord Chancellor 2019–2021 No arms known |
| | Dominic Raab, Lord Chancellor 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 No arms known |
| | Brandon Lewis, Lord Chancellor briefly in 2022 No arms known |
| | Alex Chalk, Lord Chancellor 2023–2024 No arms known |
| | Shabana Mahmood, Lord Chancellor 2024–present No arms known |
Peerages in the United Kingdom form a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various ranks, and within the framework of the Constitution of the United Kingdom form a constituent part of the legislative process and the British honours system. The British monarch is considered the fount of honour and is notionally the only person who can grant peerages, though there are many conventions about how this power is used, especially at the request of the British government. The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titled nobility, and individually to refer to a specific title. British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm.
Earl of Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Shropshire and of Clandon Park in the County of Surrey is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1801 for George Onslow, 4th Baron Onslow.
Viscount Dunrossil, of Vallaquie in the Isle of North Uist in the County of Inverness, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 12 November 1959 for the Conservative politician William Morrison upon his retirement as Speaker of the House of Commons. His son, the second Viscount, notably served as High Commissioner to Fiji and as Governor of Bermuda. As of 2017 the title is held by the latter's son, the third Viscount, who succeeded in 2000.
Robert Bannatyne Finlay, 1st Viscount Finlay,, known as Sir Robert Finlay from 1895 to 1916, was a British barrister and politician who was Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1916 to 1919.
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Frederic Herbert Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham, was a British barrister and judge who was Lord Chancellor from March 1938 until September 1939.
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Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury, 22nd Earl of Waterford, 7th Earl Talbot,, styled Viscount Ingestre until 1980, is an English nobleman and the Lord High Steward of Ireland. He is the premier earl in the Peerage of England as the Earl of Shrewsbury, and in the Peerage of Ireland as the Earl of Waterford (1446). He also holds the titles of Earl Talbot and Baron Talbot.
Walter Aston, 8th Lord Aston of Forfar was the son of Edward Aston and Anne Bayley.
General The Rt Hon. John Thomas de Burgh, 13th and 1st Earl of Clanricarde PC (Ire), styled The Honourable until 1797, was an Irish peer and soldier who was Governor of County Galway (1798–1808) and a member of the Privy Council of Ireland (1801).
Viscount Maugham, of Hartfield in the County of Sussex, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 22 September 1939 for the former Lord Chancellor, Frederic Maugham, Baron Maugham. He had already been created a life peer under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 as Baron Maugham, of Hartfield in the County of Sussex, on 7 October 1935. This title was also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. On Lord Maugham's death in 1958 the life barony became extinct while he was succeeded in the viscountcy by his only son, the second Viscount. He was an author known as Robin Maugham. He never married and on his death in 1981 the viscountcy became extinct.
The Roll of the Peerage is a public record registering peers in the peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. It was created by Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II dated 1 June 2004, is maintained by the Crown Office within the United Kingdom's Ministry of Justice, and is published by the College of Arms.
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Armorial of the speakers of the House of Commons is displayed at the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster. Speakers customarily took a grant of arms while in office if they were not armigerous already. Their shields of arms are painted on the interior walls of Speaker's House.
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The following is an armorial of the individuals who have served as governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia.