John Guillim

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The hand-colored frontpiece of John Guillim's landmark work, A Display of Heraldrie
The hand-colored frontpiece of John Guillim's landmark work, A Display of Heraldrie

John Guillim (c. 15657 May 1621) was an antiquarian and officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He is, perhaps, best remembered for his monumental work A Display of Heraldry which was first published in London in 1610.

Contents

[edit] Early life and education

Most historians date the birth of John Guillim to 1565 in the county of Herefordshire[1]. However, it is possible he may have been born around 1550, the son of John Guillim of Westbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire[2]. This part of England is very close to the border with Wales and Guillim's ancestors were probably of Welsh extraction. He was educated at Brasenose College in Oxford University[1]. In 1575 a John Guillim of Minsterworth married Frances Dennis, and raised a family of one boy, John, and three girls, Margaret, Frances, and Priscilla[3].

[edit] Heraldic career

The first record of his involvement with heraldry is the Earl Marshal's warrant, dated 23 February 1604, permitting him to bear the tabard of the Portsmouth Pursuivant Extraordinary. From Michaelmas 1613, he was receiving a salary from the College of Arms, though his official appointment as Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary was not made until 1618[4].

The Display of Heraldry was written around 1610 and reprinted as early as 1611. There were seven further editions of the book following Guillim's death, with the last one being printed in 1724. Some historians have suggested that the original author of the Display of Heraldry was a clergyman named John Barkham who was unwilling to have the work published in his own name[1].

Guillim's death is recorded as having occurred on 7 May 1621, probably at Minsterworth, although there is no record of his place of burial[1].

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Dictionary of National Biography (Vol. 23), ed. Stephen, Leslie, Sir, 1890
  2. ^ Foster, Joseph (1891) Alumni Oxoniensis 1500-1714
  3. ^ FamilySearchTM International Genealogical Index, Family Group Record [1]
  4. ^ Godfrey, Walter H.(1963), The College of Arms, a monograph of the London Survey Committee.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links