Charles Townley (officer of arms)
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Townley was a long-serving officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
.
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.
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 1715 attempt to restore the Stuarts to the throne. 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 November 2, 1751 and Clarenceux King of Arms
on January 11, 1755. He 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.
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early and private life
Charles Townley was born on Tower HillTower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
in 1713, the son of Charles Townley, of Clapham, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Sarah Wilde, daughter of William Wilde of Long-Whatton in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of 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
Towneley (family)
The Towneley or Townley family are an English recusant family whose ancestry can be traced back to Norman England. They take their name from Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire, which was the family seat until its sale in 1901.-The Towneleys of Towneley Hall:...
of Towneley Hall
Towneley Park
Towneley Park comprises Towneley Hall, a large country house, and its surrounding estate on the outskirts of Burnley, Lancashire, England....
, Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the head of which at this time was the antiquary Charles Towneley
Charles Towneley
Charles Townley was an English country gentleman, antiquary and collector of the Townley Marbles ....
.
Sir Charles married Mary, the youngest daughter of George Eastwood of Thornhill
Thornhill, West Yorkshire
Thornhill, is a village in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Thornhill was absorbed into Dewsbury County Borough in 1910. It is located on a hill on the south side of the River Calder, and has extensive views of Dewsbury, Ossett and Wakefield...
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, and had four children: Charles (who became Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Lancaster Herald
Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of Lancaster...
), William, John and Mary.
Heraldic career
He began his heraldic career as York Herald of Arms in OrdinaryYork Herald
York Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms. The first York Herald is believed to have been an officer to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York around the year 1385, but the first completely reliable reference to such a herald is in February of 1484, when John Water...
in 1735, having "agreed to purchase Mr Jones, York's, tabard
Tabard
A tabard is a short coat, either sleeveless, or with short sleeves or shoulder pieces, which was a common item of men's clothing in the Middle Ages, usually for outdoors. It might be belted, or not...
, 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 1715 attempt to restore the Stuarts to the throne. The king, George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, eventually granted letters patent appointing him to the position. This was the first patent appointing a herald
Herald
A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
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
Earl Marshal
Earl Marshal is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England...
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
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...
on November 2, 1751 and Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Clarenceux is the senior of the two provincial kings of arms and his jurisdiction is that part of England south of the River Trent. The office almost certainly existed in 1420, and there is a fair degree of...
on January 11, 1755. He ended his career with an appointment to the most senior position of Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
in 1772. He held this post until his death two years later.