Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a Scottish herald of arms Extraordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon. The office is however held in Extraordinary after the retirement of the last holder in Ordinary.
The title of the office is derived from the Earldom of Ross. The title was first used in 1475.
The Ross Herald in 1687, Henry Fraser was a heraldic painter who apprenticed under George Porteous. He was responsible for genealogical research and the designing and painting of coats of arms. There is mention of him in the Gordon papers of 24 December 1716 "Account due to Henry Fraser, Ross Herald, for paintings done for funeral of George, 1st duke of Gordon: lozenge arms, mort heads, branches for the coffin, a helmet and ducal crown, etc., and other work in the Citadel of Leith." He was also mentioned by Alexander Nisbet in his book A System of Heraldry, Speculative & Practical written in 1712 but not published until 1722 in Edinburgh. "James Workman's Illuminated Book of Arms, who was Herald in the reign of James VI, which book I frequently refer to... which book I had from the ingenious Mr. Henry Fraser, Ross Herald...." Mr. Fraser died 15 January 1724 and is buried b. 17 North Corner Naismith Tomb in Greyfriars Churchyard. The office was held until his death.
The badge of office is Two lions rampant Argent armed and langued Azure supporting a baton paleways Sable, the tips Or ensigned of the Crown of Scotland Proper.
The office is currently held by John Stirling.
Holders of the office ArmsName Date of appointmentRef... (Diligens)1476John Dickson1517Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie1540John H. Stevenson's Heraldry in Scotland (1914), vol ii, p 445Robert Hart1546Alexander Ross1558Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, no.9 (1958), p. 112: Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol.10 (1913), p.315Sir William Stewart1565John H. Stevenson, Heraldry in Scotland (1914), vol ii, p 445-446: Gordon Donaldson, Accounts of the Thirds of Benefices (Edinburgh: SHS, 1949), pp. 55-6, 95, 193.Patrick Davidson1567Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), p. 178John Purdy1593Andrew Littlejohn1596Adam Matheson1599Thomas Williamson of Mylnehill1616Thomas Hunter1625John Malcolm1630Andrew Littlejohn1646Joseph Stacey1663Henry Fraser1687Roderick Chalmers1724John Toulon (or Teulon)1746Court of the Lord Lyon, List of His Majesty's Officers of Arms. Ed. F. J. Grant, Scottish Record Society, 1945, p. 31. Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter King of Arms, The Teulon Ancestry in France, Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of London, vol. 21, n° 6, 1970, p. 569.Thomas Husband1756Patric Bennet of Whiteside1816David Taylor1825George Goldie1836Andrew Gilman1860Vacant1879–1901Andrew Monro Ross1901–1925Vacant1925–1988Charles John Burnett(Office used in Extraordinary from 2011)1988–2015Vacant2015–2017Mark D. Dennis(Office used in Extraordinary)2017–2020Vacant2020–2024John Stirling, WS2024–Present
See also Officer of Arms Herald Court of the Lord Lyon Heraldry Society of Scotland
References
External links The Court of the Lord Lyon
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