Blanche Lyon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary (sometimes Blanch Lyon) was an English office of arms created during the reign of

King Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in Englan ...

. The title was then taken from the white lion of the Mortimer

Earls of March Earl of March is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or borderlands between England and either Wales ( Welsh Marches) or Scotland (Scottish Mar ...

, one of King Edward's favourite royal badges. The title lapsed under Henry VII, but it was revived in 1537. Its status was then anomalous, for although John James was described as 'Our pursuivant' and was granted a salary by the Crown, he was expressly said to be with the Duke of Norfolk and in the College of Arms he was counted as an extraordinary. The title in this case clearly refers to the white lion

rampant In heraldry, the term attitude describes the ''position'' in which a figure (animal or human) is emblazoned as a charge, a supporter, or as a crest. The attitude of an heraldic figure always precedes any reference to the tincture of the figure ...

, which was at once arms, crest and badge of the House of Mowbray and which, with a crown about its neck, is now one of the Duke of Norfolk's supporters. Among the later incumbents a white lion was incorporated in the armorial insignia of Walker, and Rogers-Harrison. In 1602, the office was made "extraordinary" for the appointment of

Francis Thynne Francis Thynne (c. 1544 – 1608) was an English antiquary and an officer of arms at the College of Arms. Family background and early life Francis Thynne was born in Kent, the son of William Thynne, who was Master of the Household of King H ...

, before his promotion to Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary that same year. Nicholas Charles held the post.

John Philipot John Philipot (1588 – 22 November 1645) was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629. Though he successfully attained the position on Somerset Herald of Arms in ...

was created Blanche Lyon Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary in 1613, and William Dugdale followed in 1638. In 1784, Sir Isaac Heard had his

step-son A stepchild is the offspring of one's spouse, but not one's own offspring, either biologically or through adoption. Stepchildren can come into a family in a variety of ways. A stepchild may be the child of one's spouse from a previous relationshi ...

, Alexander Ochterlony, appointed Blanche Lyon. Ochterlony was the first of only two known American-born officers of arms in British history. The other was York Herald of Arms John von Sonnentag de Havilland

Holders of the office

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * ''The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street: being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee'', Walter H. Godfrey, assisted by Sir

Anthony Wagner Sir Anthony Richard Wagner (6 September 1908 – 5 May 1995) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He served as Garter Principal King of Arms before retiring to the post of Clarenceux King of Arms. He was one of ...

, with a complete list of the officers of arms, prepared by H. Stanford London, (London, 1963) * ''A History of the College of Arms &c'',

Mark Noble Mark James Noble (born 8 May 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder and is well remembered for his time at English club West Ham United, spending eighteen years with the club. Apart from two sh ...

, (London, 1804)

External links

The College of Arms
English offices of arms {{Heraldry-stub

Holders of the office

See also

References

External links