Arms: Quarterly 1st and 4th Argent on a fess Sable three cinquefoils Argent and on a canton Azure a lymphad sails furled within a royal tressure Or; 2nd quarterly 1st and 4th Argent a lion rampant Azure, 2nd and 3rd Or a saltire and chief Gules; 3rd Azure a bend between three pelicans in their piety Argent.
SOURCES/NOTES & CREDITS: Information adapted from internet sources such as the Wikipedia article on the Lord Lyon, a genealogical article on Robert Boswell of St. Boswells and from page 108 of Sir James Balfour Paul’s book “Heraldry in Relation
to Scottish History and Art” relating to Lyon Hooke-Campbell and Robert Boswell of St. Boswells for which hint we thank John H. Gaylor .
Robert Boswell of St. Boswells,WS 19 Jan 1746-1 Apr 1804 was born in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland. He was appointed Lyon Depute in 1770 by John Hooke-Campbell of Bangeston who was Lord Lyon 1754-1795. Boswell matriculated his own arms in 1773.
According to Lord Lyon Sir James Balfour Paul, “Mr. John Hooke-Campbell, a gentleman who, as far as I Know knew, never took the least interest in the office or any practical share in its doings during the forty years he held the post”. So, Lyon Depute Boswell, WS did all the work of Lyon Court.
When Hooke-Campbell died in 1795 Boswell became the Interim Lord Lyon until 1796 when the 10th Earl of Kinnoul was appointed Lord Lyon. Kinnoul also used the office as a sinecure and got his own deputy to do the work. Robert Boswell was, of course, out the door and died in London in 1804, age 58.
The artwork is a rendition of John Hamilton Gaylor
2019 0517
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