Blanche Lyon Pursuivant

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

The title was then taken from the white lion of the Mortimer Earls of March, 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, 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, before his promotion to Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary that same year. Nicholas Charles held the post.[1] John Philipot 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, 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
Arms Name Date of appointment Ref
John James 1537–1539
Francis Thynne 1602–1602
Nicholas Charles 1603–1609
John Philipot 1613–1618
John Hamelin 1624–1635
Edward Walker 1635–1637
William Dugdale 1638–1640
Robert Browne 1640–1641
Charles Mawson 1680–1686
Thomas Holford 1686–1687
Hugh Clopton 1690–1700
Robert Dale 1694–1707
John Dugdale 1707–1713
Arthur Shepherd 1719–1720
Thomas Browne 1727–1737
Alexander Ochterlony 1784–1803
George Harrison Rogers-Harrison 1831 [2]

See also

References
Citations
  1. Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). "Charles, Nicholas" . Dictionary of National Biography. 10. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. "No. 18876". The London Gazette. 22 November 1831. p. 2424.
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, 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, (London, 1804)


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