Arms: Argent, on a chief Or three pallets gules.
Badge: Behind the shield two batons Gules placed saltirewise, semée of thistles, ensigned with an imperial crown Or, as badges of the office of the Great Marischal of Scotland.
SOURCES, NOTES AND CREDITS: Pages 25-74, Vol. VI, “The Scots Peerage” edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, 1909, We are using Appendix A ( page 156 ) “The Union Roll, 1707” found in the book “The Sixteen Peers of Scotland” by Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran, Bt. which indicates the Earl Marishal is the third senior Earl in the Peerage of Scotland. And the
Wikipedia article on the subject.
The union Roll of 1707 lists the Earl Marishal as No.3 in seniority of Earls in the Peerage of Scotland. As such it is one of the oldest titles of Earl in the Peerage of Scotland.
The name Marshal was sometimes spelt Marishal or Marischal and so spelt by Sir James Balfour Paul in “The Scots Peerage”.
The title of Great Marishal was conferred upon Robert Keith in circa. 1010 and remained hereditary with his heirs for over 700 years
Sir William Keith, between 1446 and 1451 was created Lord Keith and on 7 October 1458 created Earl of Marischal and Lord Keith.
The last Great Marischal was George Keith born in 1694 and who succeeded his father as 10th Earl Marischal in 1712 but at age 25 got involved with the rising of 1719. The rising was defeated at Glenshiel on 18 June 1719. George Keith escaped to Spain but was attainted at home for treason, lost his estates, titles & the office of Great Marischal of Scotland also in 1719.
George Keith lived abroad for most of the rest of his life but was personally pardoned by George II in 1759 and lived in Prussia until his death in 1778 at age 84.
Since he was pardoned, we thought it would be nice to at least honour him with the batons he had lost…
The artwork is a rendition by John Hamilton Gaylor.
2020 0924
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