- Algar Howard
Sir Algar Henry Stafford Howard, KCB, KCVO, MC, TD (7 August 1880–14 February 1970) was a long-serving officer of arms at the
College of Arms inLondon . He was the third consecutive Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary to attain the highest rank at the College of Arms.Personal life
Howard was the eldest son but second child of
Edward Stafford Howard and Lady Rachel Anne Georgina Campbell, and was educated at Harrow. Howard married Violet Ethel Meysey-Thompson, daughter of Sir Henry Meysey Meysey-Thompson, first and lastBaron Knaresborough , on 11 October 1921. The couple had two daughters.Military career
In the
First World War Howard served with the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. He won theMilitary Cross and attained the rank ofMajor .Heraldic career
Howard began his heraldic career on 23 May 1911 with an appointment as Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary for the
coronation of King George V. [LondonGazette|issue=28504|startpage=4506|date=16 June 1911|accessdate=2007-11-15] This was followed in October of that year with appointment to the office of Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. [LondonGazette|issue=28545|startpage=7794|date=27 October 1911|accessdate=2007-11-15] In 1919, Howard was promoted to the office of Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary and he held this position until 1931. [LondonGazette|issue=31598|startpage=12654|date=14 October 1919|accessdate=2007-11-15] In that year he was made Norroy King of Arms when Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston was promoted. Howard was also appointed Registrar of the College of Arms in 1928, and during theSecond World War the records of the College were stored at his home ofThornbury Castle inGloucestershire for safekeeping. In 1943, the office of Ulster King of Arms was merged with that of Norroy and Howard became the firstNorroy and Ulster King of Arms . He remained in this office until 1944, when he was promoted toGarter Principal King of Arms . [LondonGazette|issue=36552|startpage=2707|date=6 June 1944|accessdate=2007-11-15] He retired from this office, and from the College of Arms, in 1950.Howard was created Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1935, Companion of the Bath (CB) in 1937, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1944, and Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) in 1951.
ee also
*
Heraldry
*Pursuivant
*Herald
*King of Arms References
*Appointment to Norroy, "The Times", 7 February 1931
*Obituary, "The Times", 16 February 1970External links
* [http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/ The College of Arms]
* [http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/info/o_of_a/intro.htm CUHAGS Officer of Arms Index]
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