Archibald Russell
Encyclopedia
Archibald George Blomefield Russell, CVO
, FSA
(20 June 1879-30 November 1955) was an English art historian and a long-serving officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
.
of Yorkshire
, and his wife Louisa Blomefield the daughter of Rev. Sir Thomas Blomefield, 3rd Baronet. Russell was educated at Eton
and Christ Church College, Oxford and became a journalist, art critic and art historian, writing works on William Blake
.
career began on 10 November 1915 when he was made Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms In Ordinary
. The vacancy in this office occurred due to the promotion of Arthur Cochrane
to the office of Chester Herald
earlier in the year. On 21 April 1922, Russell was promoted to the office of Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
. This appointment came as a result of the death of the previous Lancaster, Edward Bellasis. Russell served as a herald in ordinary
for more than thirty years. In 1954, with the death of Arthur Cochrane, a vacancy occurred in the office of Clarenceux King of Arms
. Russell was chosen to fill the position and held it until his death a year later.
Russell married Janet Frances Kerr in 1915 and had two sons who were killed during World War II
. In his later years he was an ardent collector of moths and butterflies. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries and a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.
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...
, 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...
(20 June 1879-30 November 1955) was an English art historian and a long-serving 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...
at 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early life
Russell was the fourth son of Theodosius Stuart Russell, Chief ConstableChief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and his wife Louisa Blomefield the daughter of Rev. Sir Thomas Blomefield, 3rd Baronet. Russell was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church College, Oxford and became a journalist, art critic and art historian, writing works on William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
.
Heraldic career
Russell's heraldicHeraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
career began on 10 November 1915 when he was made Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms In Ordinary
Rouge Croix Pursuivant
Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms. The office is named after St George's Cross which has been a symbol of England since the time of the Crusades...
. The vacancy in this office occurred due to the promotion of Arthur Cochrane
Arthur Cochrane
Sir Arthur William Steuart Cochrane, KCVO was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Biography:...
to the office of Chester Herald
Chester Herald
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, the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached...
earlier in the year. On 21 April 1922, Russell 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...
. This appointment came as a result of the death of the previous Lancaster, Edward Bellasis. Russell served as a herald in ordinary
Herald
A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
for more than thirty years. In 1954, with the death of Arthur Cochrane, a vacancy occurred in the office of Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Clarenceux is the senior of the two provincial kings of arms and his jurisdiction is that part of England south of the River Trent. The office almost certainly existed in 1420, and there is a fair degree of...
. Russell was chosen to fill the position and held it until his death a year later.
Russell married Janet Frances Kerr in 1915 and had two sons who were killed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In his later years he was an ardent collector of moths and butterflies. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries and a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.
Published works
- The Prophetic Books of William Blake: Jerusalem, Ed., 1904.
- The Letters of William Blake; together with a Life by Frederick Tatham. Methuen, 1906.
- The Prophetic Books of William Blake: Milton, Ed., 1907.
- The engravings of William Blake, Houghton Mifflin, 1912.