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 in London. He was the third consecutive Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary to attain the highest rank at the College of Arms.

[edit] 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 last Baron Knaresborough, on 11 October 1921. The couple had two daughters.

In the First World War Howard served with the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. He won the Military Cross and attained the rank of Major.

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.^[1] This was followed in October of that year with appointment to the office of Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.^[2] In 1919, Howard was promoted to the office of Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary and he held this position until 1931.^[3] 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 the Second World War the records of the College were stored at his home of Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire for safekeeping. In 1943, the office of Ulster King of Arms was merged with that of Norroy and Howard became the first Norroy and Ulster King of Arms. He remained in this office until 1944, when he was promoted to Garter Principal King of Arms.^[4] 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.