![]() The heraldic badge of Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary | |
Heraldic tradition | Gallo–British |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
Governing body | College of Arms |
Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. In the year 1448 Somerset Herald is known to have served the Duke of Somerset, but by the time of the coronation of King Henry VII in 1485 his successor appears to have been raised to the rank of a royal officer, when he was the only herald to receive coronation liveries.
By 1525 Somerset was again in private service, on the staff of the Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Henry Fitzroy, although he was appointed by the King and shared the heralds' fees as a herald extraordinary. On the death of that nobleman in 1536 the herald returned to the service of the crown, and all later officers called Somerset have been members of the royal household as heralds in ordinary. The badge of office is A Portcullis Or Royally Crowned. This is a version of the Beaufort badge.
The current Somerset Herald of Arms is Mark Scott.
Arms | Name | Date of appointment | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Herald of Henry VII | ||||
![]() | John Yonge, Esq. [lower-alpha 1] | (1493) | ||
![]() | John Pounde, Esq. | (1511) | ||
Herald to Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset | ||||
![]() | John Pounde, Esq. | (1511) | ||
![]() | William Hastings, Esq. | (1528) | ||
![]() | Thomas Traheyron or Trahern, Esq. | (1536) | ||
Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary | ||||
![]() | Thomas Traheyron or Trahern, Esq. [lower-alpha 2] | 1536–1542 | ||
![]() | Richard Radcliffe, Esq. | 1543–1545 | ||
![]() | William Harvey, Esq. | 1545–1551 | ||
![]() | Edmond Atkinson, Esq. | 1551–1571 | ||
![]() | Robert Glover, Esq. | 1571–1588 | ||
![]() | William Segar, Esq. | 1589–1597 | ||
![]() | Robert Treswell, Esq. | 1597–1624 | ||
John Philipot | 1624–1645 | |||
![]() | George Owen, Esq. | 1657–1658 | ||
![]() | Henry Bysshe, Esq. | 1658–1660 | ||
![]() | Sir Thomas St George | 1660–1680 | ||
![]() | Francis Burghill, Esq. | 1680–1700 | ||
![]() | Samuel Stebbing Esq. | 1700–1720 | ||
![]() | John Warburton, Esq., FRS, FSA | 1720–1759 | ||
![]() | Ralph Bigland | 1759–1773 | [2] | |
![]() | Henry Hastings, Esq. | 1773–1777 | ||
![]() | John Charles Brooke, Esq, FSA | 1777–1794 | [3] | |
![]() | John Atkinson, Esq. | 1794–1813 | [4] | |
![]() | James Cathrow, Esq. | 1813–1854 | [5] | |
![]() | William Courthope, Esq. | 1854–1866 | [6] | |
![]() | James Robinson Planché, Esq., FSA | 1866–1872 | [7] | |
![]() | Stephen Isaacson Tucker, Esq. | 1880–1887 | [8] | |
![]() | Sir Henry Farnham Burke, KCVO, CB, FSA | 1887–1911 | ||
![]() | Everard Green, Esq., FSA | 1911–1926 | [9] | |
![]() | Hon. Sir George Rothe Bellew, KCB, KCVO, FSA | 1926–1950 | [10] | |
![]() | Michael Roger Trappes-Lomax, Esq., FSA | 1951–1967 | [11] | |
![]() | Rodney Dennys, Esq., CVO, OBE, FSA | 1967–1982 | [12] | |
![]() | Thomas Woodcock, Esq., LVO, FSA | 1982–1997 | [13] | |
![]() | David Vines White, Esq. | 2004–2021 | [14] | |
Mark John Rosborough Scott, Esq. | 2024–present | [15] [16] | ||
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Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward, Prince of Wales, also known as the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached to the Principality of Chester, which was a perquisite of the then Prince of Wales. In the reign of King Henry VIII the title lapsed for a time but, since 1525, the office of Chester has been one of unbroken succession, as a herald in ordinary. The badge of office is taken from the arms of the Earl of Chester and in blazoned as A Garb ensigned of the Royal Crown Or.
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Sir Henry Farnham Burke, (1859–1930) was a long-serving Anglo-Irish officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.
Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Wollaston's family had a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Wollaston's great-grandfather was Sir William Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842. His grandfather was Sir Albert William Woods who held the same post from 1869 to 1904.
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.
Timothy Hugh Stewart Duke, FSA is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.
Berwick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary was an English office of arms created around 1460 for service on the Scottish Marches based at Berwick-upon-Tweed. In the 16th century there was also a Herald or Pursuivant based at Carlisle on the west border.
Blanche Lyon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary was an English office of arms created during the reign of King Edward IV.
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.
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