Windsor Herald
Encyclopedia
Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
. It has been suggested that the office was instituted specifically for the Order of the Garter
in 1348, or that it predates the Order and was in use as early as 1338. However, it is more likely that it dates from 1364 when a pursuivant
of Edward III, on bringing the king news of the victory at Auray
, was rewarded by promotion to the rank of herald
with the title Windsor. Thereafter there is little mention of the office before 1419, when Windsor Herald was sent to the Duke of Brittany
. Since that time, the office has been maintained. The badge of office is the sunburst badge of Edward III (Edward of Windsor) royally crowned.
The most well-known Windsor Herald was the 17th century antiquarian
, Elias Ashmole
. The current Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is William George Hunt, TD
, BA
(Southampton
), FCA
.
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...
. It has been suggested that the office was instituted specifically for the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
in 1348, or that it predates the Order and was in use as early as 1338. However, it is more likely that it dates from 1364 when a pursuivant
Pursuivant
A pursuivant or, more correctly, pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval era, many great nobles employed their own officers of...
of Edward III, on bringing the king news of the victory at Auray
Battle of Auray
The Battle of Auray took place on 29 September 1364 at the French town of Auray. This battle was the decisive confrontation of the Breton War of Succession, a part of the Hundred Years' War....
, was rewarded by promotion to the rank of herald
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....
with the title Windsor. Thereafter there is little mention of the office before 1419, when Windsor Herald was sent to the Duke of Brittany
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
. Since that time, the office has been maintained. The badge of office is the sunburst badge of Edward III (Edward of Windsor) royally crowned.
The most well-known Windsor Herald was the 17th century antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. Ashmole supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II he was rewarded with several lucrative offices.Ashmole was an antiquary with a...
. The current Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is William George Hunt, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
), FCA
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales was established by a Royal Charter in 1880. It has over 130,000 members. Over 15,000 of these members live and work outside the UK...
.
Holders of the office
Brackets indicate a date or approximate date for which there is evidence that the named person was holder of this office. The reigning monarch is given if the date is not known more precisely.- (Edw IIIEdward III of EnglandEdward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
) Andrew (surname unknown) - (1366) Stephen (surname unknown)
- (Hen VIHenry VI of EnglandHenry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
) Thomas More, EsqEsquireEsquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
. - (Hen VI) Robert Ashwell, Esq.
- (Edw IVEdward IV of EnglandEdward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
) John Ferrant, Esq. - (Edw IV) John Ballard, Esq.
- 1461-1468 Thomas Holme, Esq.
- 1468-1486 John More, Esq.
- 1486-1502 Richard Slacke, Esq.
- 1504-1510 Thomas Benolte, Esq.
- 1510-1524 Francis Dyes, Esq.
- 1524-1529 Thomas Wall, Esq., jun
- 1529-1565 Charles WriothesleyCharles WriothesleyCharles Wriothesley was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the last member of a dynasty of heralds that started with his grandfather—Garter Principal King of Arms John Writhe.-Personal life:...
- 1565-1583 Richard Turpin, Esq.
- 1583-1597 Nicholas Dethick, Esq.
- 1597-1602 Thomas LantThomas LantThomas Lant was a draftsman and long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Lant was born in Gloucester and was one of seven children of Thomas and Mary Lant. When Lant was twelve years old, he became a page to Richard Cheney, the Bishop of Gloucester. When Cheney died in 1579,...
, Esq. - 1602-1604 Richard St GeorgeRichard St GeorgeSir Richard St George was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms on London during the seventeenth century.The date of birth of Richard St George is unknown. In 1575 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas St John of Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire. He joined the College of Arms in 1602...
, Esq. - 1617-1624 Samuel Thompson, Esq.
- 1624-1626 Augustine VincentAugustine Vincent-Life:He was born presumably in Northamptonshire, about 1584, third and youngest son of William Vincent and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Mabbott of Walgrave, merchant of the staple. He early obtained a post in the Tower of London. He had access to the documents preserved in the Tower, and...
, Esq. - 1626-1633 John Bradshaw, Esq.
- 1633-1660 Edward Norgate, Esq.
- 1660-1675 Elias AshmoleElias AshmoleElias Ashmole was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. Ashmole supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II he was rewarded with several lucrative offices.Ashmole was an antiquary with a...
, Esq. - 1676-1686 John Dugdale, Esq.
- 1686-1687 Henry Ball, Esq.
- 1687-1690 Thomas Holdford Esq.
- 1690-1726 Peers Mauduit, Esq.
- 1726-1736 James Whorwood Esq.
- 1736-1746 John Kettle, Esq., FSASociety of Antiquaries of LondonThe 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...
- 1746-1746 Richard Mawson, Esq.
- 1746-1757 Thomas Thornborough Esq.
- 1757-1774 Henry Hill, Esq., FSA
- 1774-1784 George Harrison, Esq.
- 1784-1819 Francis Townsend, Esq., FSA
- 1819-1839 Francis Martin, Esq.
- 1839-1849 Robert Laurie, Esq.
- 1849-1880 George Harrison Rogers-Harrison, Esq.
- 1880-1894 Sir William Henry Weldon, KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe 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 - 1894-1919 William Alexander LindsayWilliam Lindsay (officer of arms)William Alexander Lindsay, CVO, FSA was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Lindsay was the son of Hon. Colin Lindsay and Lady Frances Howard. On 7 May 1870, he married Lady Harriet Gordon, a daughter of the 5th Earl of Aberdeen and Mary Baillie...
, Esq., CVORoyal Victorian OrderThe 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 - 1919-1931 Sir Algar Henry Stafford HowardAlgar HowardSir Algar Henry Stafford Howard, KCB, KCVO, MC, TD was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London...
, KCBOrder of the BathThe 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...
, KCVO, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, TD - 1931-1946 Alfred ButlerAlfred ButlerAlfred Trego Butler MVO, MC, FSA was a genealogist and officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Early and personal life:...
, Esq., MVORoyal Victorian OrderThe 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...
, MC, FSA - 1947-1966 Richard Preston Graham-VivianRichard Graham-VivianRichard Preston Graham-Vivian, MVO, MC was a long-serving English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the younger son of Sir Richard James Graham, 4th Baronet, and Lady Mabel Cynthia Duncombe. During the First World War he served as an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps...
, Esq., MVO, MC - 1966-1978 Sir Alexander Colin Cole, KCB, KCVO, TD, FSA
- 1978-1997 Theobald MathewTheobald Mathew (officer of arms)Theobald David Mathew was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.Theobald Mathew was the son of solicitor Robert Mathew and Joan Young, and great-nephew of Sir Arthur Cochrane, Clarenceux King of Arms from 1928 to 1954...
, Esq., MAMaster of Arts (Oxbridge)In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree... - 1999-Present William George HuntWilliam Hunt (officer of arms)William George Hunt, CStJ,TD, FCA is the current Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary at the College of Arms in London. Hunt worked for many years in the City of London as a chartered accountant. He was appointed as Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in 1992 and in 1999 he was appointed as...
, Esq., TD