Richard St George

Sir Richard St George (c.1550 – 1635) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in 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.^[1] He joined the College of Arms in 1602. During this year, he was unsuccessful in his bid to be appointed Norroy King of Arms, but he later became Berwick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary and then Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary. In 1604, St George was finally able to secure an appointment as Norroy and was knighted in 1616. In 1623, he attained the position of Clarenceux King of Arms, the second highest heraldic appointment in England. He was active in all of the posts to which he was appointed until his death. He carried out numerous visitations during his tenure and was a noted scholar and antiquarian.

Richard St George died in 1635 and is buried in St Andrew’s, Holborn. The family bore a coat of arms blazoned Argent a Chief Azure overall a Lion rampant Gules crowned Or.

Issue

Richard St George was the head of a noted heraldic family. His son Henry became Garter Principal King of Arms in 1645 and the latter’s two sons, Thomas and Henry became Garters in 1686 and 1703 respectively.

Richard St George's second son, Sir George St George of Carrickdrumrusk had two sons (Oliver and George) and was ancestor of the Barons St George. Another son, Richard, was ancestor of the St Georges of Woodsgift in County Kilkenny.^[2]

References