Gerald Wollaston

Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston, KCB, KCVO (1874-1957) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Wollaston's family had a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Wollaston's great-grandfather was Sir William Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842. His grandfather was Sir Albert William Woods who held the same post from 1869 to 1904.

Wollaston's first heraldic post came in 1902 with his appointment as Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary.^[1] This appointment came on the coronation of King Edward VII in that year. He held this post until becoming a member of the College chapter on 11 January 1906 as Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.^[2] On 26 February 1919, Wollaston was promoted to the office of Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary. He remained a herald in ordinary until 1929, when he was appointed Norroy King of Arms.^[3] He became Garter Principal King of Arms in 1930 to replace Henry Burke. Wollaston retired from the post of Garter in 1944 to become the second Norroy and Ulster King of Arms^[4] and served as such until his death in 1957.

[edit] See also

Heraldic offices
Preceded by Gordon Ambrose de Lisle Lee	Bluemantle Pursuivant 1906 – 1919	Succeeded by Hon. Philip Cary
Preceded by Charles Harold Athill	Richmond Herald 1919 – 1928	Succeeded by Henry Robert Charles Martin
Preceded by Sir Arthur William Stuart Cochrane	Norroy King of Arms 1928 – 1930	Succeeded by Sir Algar Henry Stafford Howard
Preceded by Sir Henry Farnham Burke	Garter Principal King of Arms 1930 – 1944	Succeeded by Sir Algar Henry Stafford Howard
Preceded by Sir Algar Henry Stafford Howard	Norroy and Ulster King of Arms 1944 – 1957	Succeeded by Aubrey John Toppin