Conrad Swan
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Sir Conrad Marshall John Fisher Swan, KCVO, KGCN, FSA, FRHSC (b. 1924) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Having been first appointed to work at the College in 1962, he rose to the office of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1992. Swan was also the first Canadian ever to be appointed to the College of Arms.
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[edit] Early life
Conrad Swan was born in 1924 in British Columbia, Canada. His father descending from old polish noble family Święcicki, after imigration to Canada assumed new name Swan. Conrad Swan devoted much of his life to travelling. His voyages started in his early twenties, when he left for India to serve as a Captain in the Madras Regiment during World War II. Subsequently, Swan arrived in London as a student of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London before returning back to Canada to complete his bachelor's degree and master's degree at the University of Western Ontario. During this time, he developed a keen interest in Commonwealth affairs, which brought him back to Britain, where he acquired his doctorate from Cambridge University in 1955.
Later in the same year Swan continued his academic career. He spent two years lecturing history at the University of Windsor before transferring to the University of Beadle in the United States of America. Since then Swan has been actively involved in teaching at some of the top United States and Canadian universities. His appointments include the Yale University in 1964, St Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan in 1967, and the University of Alberta in 1987.
[edit] Heraldic career
In addition to his educational achievements, Conrad Swan developed an exceptional heraldic career. He was first appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in 1962 and six years later became a York Herald of Arms in Ordinary. In these capacities he was among the Earl Marshal’s staff for the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, the Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales in 1969, and was Gentleman Usher-in-Waiting to HH Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United Kingdom in 1982. Swan was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms in 1992 on the retirement of Sir Alexander Colin Cole. His own retirement came in 1995, ostensibly for medical reasons. It seems, though that allegations were made that he had falsified records in relation to his son-in-law. He did not admit the allegations, saying that they had arisen from an honest mistake.
Sir Conrad Swan was the first herald to execute official duties in-tabard across the Atlantic Ocean and in the southern hemisphere. He did so in Bermuda in 1969 and in Brisbane in 1977. He was instrumental in the creation of the Honours System of Antigua and Barbuda, and between 1964 and 1967, Swan was an adviser to the Prime Minister of Canada on the establishment of the National Flag of Canada and the Order of Canada. Swan also took a special interest in Saskatchewan, helping the province obtain a full coat of arms from the Queen in 1986 and a new Great Seal in 1991. He advised the province on the establishment of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 1985 and the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal in 1995 and the recent expansion of the provincial honours system.
A keen scholar and publicist, Sir Conrad Swan has written a number of books and articles on heraldic, sigillographic and related subjects. He is a member of several international societies and organisations and was a founder of the Heraldry Society of Canada and the Heraldic Garden in Britain.
[edit] Honours and appointments
Swan was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1994 as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda), Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta, Knight Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, Knight Commander of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania) and a Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I.
[edit] Published works
- Swan, Conrad. Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
| Heraldic Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees |
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1962-1968 |
Succeeded by Theobald Mathew |
| Preceded by Charles St Clair, 17th Lord Sinclair |
York Herald 1968-1992 |
Succeeded by Peter Spurrier |
| Preceded by Alexander Colin Cole |
Garter Principal King of Arms 1992–1995 |
Succeeded by Peter Gwynn-Jones |
