Richard St George

Sir Richard St George (c1550–1635) 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, though he was married in 1575 and 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 was also 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 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".