Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a Scotland 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 Heraldic badge 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
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| !... (Diligens)1476
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| !John Dickson1517
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| !Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie1540
| [ John H. Stevenson's Heraldry in Scotland (1914), vol ii, p 445] |
| !Robert Hart1546
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| !Alexander Ross1558
| [ Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, no.9 (1958), p. 112: Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol.10 (1913), p.315] |
| !Sir William Stewart1565
| [ John H. Stevenson, Heraldry in Scotland (1914), vol ii, p 445-446: Donaldson, Gordon, ed., Accounts of the Thirds of Benefices, SHS (1949), pp.55-6, 95, 193] |
| !Patrick Davidson1567
| [ Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol.12 (1970), p. 178] |
| !John Purdy1593
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| !Andrew Littlejohn1596
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| !Adam Matheson1599
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| !Thomas Williamson of Mylnehill1616
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| !Thomas Hunter1625
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| !John Malcolm1630
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| !Andrew Littlejohn1646
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| !Joseph Stacey1663
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| !Henry Fraser1687
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| !Roderick Chalmers1724
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| !John Toulon (or Teulon)1746
| [Court 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 Husband1756
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| !Patric Bennet of Whiteside1816
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| !David Taylor1825
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| !George Goldie1836
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| !Andrew Gilman1860
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| ! Vacant1879–1901
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| !Andrew Monro Ross1901–1925
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| ! Vacant1925–1988
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!Charles John Burnett
(Office used in Extraordinary from 2011)1988–2015
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| ! Vacant2015–2017
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!Mark D. Dennis
(Office used in Extraordinary)2017–2020
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| ! Vacant2020–2024
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!John Stirling, WS
2024–Present
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See also
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Officer of Arms
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Herald
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Court of the Lord Lyon
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Heraldry Society of Scotland
External links
