Richard St George

Who was Richard St George?

Sir 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. 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.