Charles Townley was born on Tower Hill in 1713, the son of Charles Townley, of Clapham, Surrey and Sarah Wilde, daughter of William Wilde of Long-Whatton in Leicestershire. His mother died the following year. His father remarried twice; with Gertrude Kirkes, he had a large family. Townley was a descendant of a younger branch of the Town(e)ley family of Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire, the head of which at this time was the antiquary Charles Towneley.
He began his heraldic career as York Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 1735, having "agreed to purchase Mr Jones, York's, tabard, for £400". In other words, he purchased the position from his predecessor. There was opposition to his obtaining the position because of his relation to the Townleys of Lancashire, who were involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715. The king, George II, eventually granted letters patent appointing him to the position. This was the first patent appointing a herald to have been written in English. Townley's appointment was also notable for having a warrant issued by Francis Howard, Earl of Effingham as Deputy Earl Marshal allowing the ceremony of creation as a herald to be dispensed with, even though a patent had been signed to perform it. He progressed through the ranks of the College of Arms, being appointed Norroy King of Arms on 2 November 1751 and Clarenceux King of Arms on 11 January 1755.
He was knighted in September 1761 and ended his career with an appointment to the most senior position of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1772. He held this post until his death two years later.
Armsedit
Coat of arms of Charles Townley
Adopted
4 July 1743
Crest
On a perch or a hawk close proper, beak & bells or, a riband gules twined about the perch.
Escutcheon
Quarterly, (1 & 4) argent, a fess & in chief 3 mullets sable, with an annulet on a mullet or for difference (Townley); (2 & 3) argent, a chevron engrailed sable ermined argent & on a chief sable 3 martlets argent (Wilde, granted 4 July 1743).[1]
^Godfrey, Walter H; Wagner, Anthony (1963). "'Garter King of Arms', in Survey of London Monograph 16, College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street (London, 1963), pp. 38-74". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
Bibliography
Mark Noble, A History of the College of Arms &c, (London, 1804)
charles, townley, officer, arms, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, me. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Sir Charles Townley 7 May 1713 7 June 1774 was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London Contents 1 Early and private life 2 Heraldic career 3 Arms 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly and private life editCharles Townley was born on Tower Hill in 1713 the son of Charles Townley of Clapham Surrey and Sarah Wilde daughter of William Wilde of Long Whatton in Leicestershire His mother died the following year His father remarried twice with Gertrude Kirkes he had a large family Townley was a descendant of a younger branch of the Town e ley family of Towneley Hall Burnley Lancashire the head of which at this time was the antiquary Charles Towneley Sir Charles married Mary the youngest daughter of George Eastwood of Thornhill in the West Riding of Yorkshire and had four children Charles who became Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary William John and Mary Heraldic career editHe began his heraldic career as York Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 1735 having agreed to purchase Mr Jones York s tabard for 400 In other words he purchased the position from his predecessor There was opposition to his obtaining the position because of his relation to the Townleys of Lancashire who were involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715 The king George II eventually granted letters patent appointing him to the position This was the first patent appointing a herald to have been written in English Townley s appointment was also notable for having a warrant issued by Francis Howard Earl of Effingham as Deputy Earl Marshal allowing the ceremony of creation as a herald to be dispensed with even though a patent had been signed to perform it He progressed through the ranks of the College of Arms being appointed Norroy King of Arms on 2 November 1751 and Clarenceux King of Arms on 11 January 1755 He was knighted in September 1761 and ended his career with an appointment to the most senior position of Garter Principal King of Arms in 1772 He held this post until his death two years later Arms editCoat of arms of Charles Townley nbsp Adopted 4 July 1743 Crest On a perch or a hawk close proper beak amp bells or a riband gules twined about the perch Escutcheon Quarterly 1 amp 4 argent a fess amp in chief 3 mullets sable with an annulet on a mullet or for difference Townley 2 amp 3 argent a chevron engrailed sable ermined argent amp on a chief sable 3 martlets argent Wilde granted 4 July 1743 1 Motto Tenez la Vraye Hold to the truth See also editHeraldry Pursuivant King of ArmsReferences editCitations Godfrey Walter H Wagner Anthony 1963 Garter King of Arms in Survey of London Monograph 16 College of Arms Queen Victoria Street London 1963 pp 38 74 british history ac uk Retrieved 1 November 2018 Bibliography Mark Noble A History of the College of Arms amp c London 1804 Townley Charles Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links editThe College of Arms Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Townley officer of arms amp oldid 1198720448, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
