Thomas Sadleir
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ulick Sadleir was an Irish genealogist and heraldic expert. He was successively registrar of the Order of St Patrick, Deputy Ulster King of Arms
and Acting Ulster King of Arms.
Sadleir's first involvement with the office of arms at Dublin Castle
was when he worked on an unpaid basis whilst an undergraduate at Trinity College, Dublin
. He graduated in 1904, and was called to the bar in 1906.
By 1913 he was working on a daily basis at the office, whilst practising as a barrister. In 1915 he was appointed registrar of the Order of St Patrick by George Dames Burtchaell, Deputy Ulster King of Arms. In practice, Sadleir carried out most of the day-to-day work of Ulster's office.
In August 1921 Burtchaell was killed in a tram accident, and in September Sadleir was appointed Deputy to Neville Rodwell Wilkinson
, Ulster King of Arms. As Wilkinson was almost always absent from Dublin, Sadleir performed most of the duties of the office.
The Office of Arms was unaffected by the independence of the Irish Free State
in 1922, continuing to cover the whole of the island of Ireland, and remaining based in Dublin Castle
.
In 1940 Wilkinson died, and the government of Ireland requested that no successor be appointed. For the next three years Sadleir was Acting King of Arms.
In 1943 the government of Ireland established the Genealogical Office which took over the records of the Office of Arms, while the title of Ulster King of Arms was merged with that of Norroy to become Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
, a member of the College of Arms
in London
.
Sadleir continued to work for the Genealogical Office until 1944, clearing the large backlog of grants and confirmations of arms that had built up in Ulster's office. After leaving the GO, he continued his private genealogical practice. He maintained links with his former employer, however, remaining a trustee of the Heraldic Museum until his death.
Sadleir subsequently became librarian at King's Inns, Dublin, a post he held until his death.
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...
and Acting Ulster King of Arms.
Sadleir's first involvement with the office of arms at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
was when he worked on an unpaid basis whilst an undergraduate at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He graduated in 1904, and was called to the bar in 1906.
By 1913 he was working on a daily basis at the office, whilst practising as a barrister. In 1915 he was appointed registrar of the Order of St Patrick by George Dames Burtchaell, Deputy Ulster King of Arms. In practice, Sadleir carried out most of the day-to-day work of Ulster's office.
In August 1921 Burtchaell was killed in a tram accident, and in September Sadleir was appointed Deputy to Neville Rodwell Wilkinson
Neville Wilkinson
Major Sir Nevile Rodwell Wilkinson, KCVO was a British officer of arms, British Army officer, author and a dollhouse designer.-Early life and military career:...
, Ulster King of Arms. As Wilkinson was almost always absent from Dublin, Sadleir performed most of the duties of the office.
The Office of Arms was unaffected by the independence of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1922, continuing to cover the whole of the island of Ireland, and remaining based in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
In 1940 Wilkinson died, and the government of Ireland requested that no successor be appointed. For the next three years Sadleir was Acting King of Arms.
In 1943 the government of Ireland established the Genealogical Office which took over the records of the Office of Arms, while the title of Ulster King of Arms was merged with that of Norroy to become Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...
, a member 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...
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...
.
Sadleir continued to work for the Genealogical Office until 1944, clearing the large backlog of grants and confirmations of arms that had built up in Ulster's office. After leaving the GO, he continued his private genealogical practice. He maintained links with his former employer, however, remaining a trustee of the Heraldic Museum until his death.
Sadleir subsequently became librarian at King's Inns, Dublin, a post he held until his death.
Sources
- Royal Roots, Republican Inheritance - The Survival of the Office of Arms, Susan Hood, Dublin, 2002
- Sadleir Papers, Genealogical Office http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/sadleir%20(2).pdf