Albert Woods
Encyclopedia
Sir Albert William Woods, GCVO
, KCB
, KCMG
, KGStJ, FSA
(16 April 1816–7 January 1904) was an English
officer of arms
. The Woods family has a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Albert Woods was the son of Sir William Woods
, Garter Principal 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 Principal King of Arms and served there from 1930 until 1944.
at the coronation of Queen Victoria
. In 1838 Woods became a member of the chapter of the College of Arms
when he was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
. After a short appointment as Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary
, Woods was promoted to the office of Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
in 1841. This position was held until 1869, when he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms, a position he held until his death 35 years later.
From 1866, Woods was registrar of the College of Arms. At his appointment as Garter Principal King of Arms, he was also named the King of Arms
of the Order of St Michael and St George
. In 1878, he was made registrar of the Order of the Star of India
and the Order of the Indian Empire
. Woods also officiated at the coronation
s both of Queen Victoria
and of King Edward VII
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KGStJ, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(16 April 1816–7 January 1904) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
. The Woods family has a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Albert Woods was the son of Sir William Woods
William Woods (officer of arms)
Sir William Woods was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was said to be an illegitimate son of the Duke of Norfolk and was appointed to the post of Clarenceux King of Arms in 1831...
, Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
from 1838 until his death in 1842. Likewise, the grandson
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
of Albert Woods was Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston
Gerald Wollaston
Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston, KCB, KCVO 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...
, who also rose to the rank of Garter Principal King of Arms and served there from 1930 until 1944.
Heraldic career
Woods' first heraldic appointment came in 1837 when he served as Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms ExtraordinaryFitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary
Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is a current officer of arms in England. As a pursuivant extraordinary, Fitzalan is a royal officer of arms, but is not a member of the corporation of the College of Arms in London...
at the coronation of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. In 1838 Woods became a member of the chapter of the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
when he was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Portcullis Pursuivant
Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office is named after the Portcullis chained Or badge of the Beauforts, which was a favourite device of King Henry VII. King Henry's mother was Lady Margaret Beaufort. The office was...
. After a short appointment as Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary
Norfolk Herald Extraordinary
Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary is an officer of arms in England. As an officer extraordinary, Norfolk is a royal herald, though not a member of the corporation of the College of Arms in London. Beginning in 1539 this officer was a herald to the dukes of Norfolk, though the first holder,...
, Woods was promoted to the office of Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Lancaster Herald
Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of Lancaster...
in 1841. This position was held until 1869, when he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms, a position he held until his death 35 years later.
From 1866, Woods was registrar of the College of Arms. At his appointment as Garter Principal King of Arms, he was also named the King of Arms
King of Arms
King of Arms is the senior rank of an officer of arms. In many heraldic traditions, only a king of arms has the authority to grant armorial bearings. In other traditions, the power has been delegated to other officers of similar rank.-Heraldic duties:...
of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
. In 1878, he was made registrar of the Order of the Star of India
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
and the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
. Woods also officiated at the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
s both of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and of King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
.
Honours and appointments
- 1837 - Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary
- 1838 - Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
- 1841 - Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary
- 1841 - Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
- 1869 - Knight BachelorKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
- 1869 - Garter Principal King of Arms
- 1897 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
- 1899 - Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- 1903 - Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order