Blazon:
Shield: Quarterly: 1st and 4th Azure three naked savages ambulant gardant in fess proper each holding in his dexter hand a shield Argent charged of a cross Gules and in his sinister hand a club resting against his shoulder also proper on a canton Ermine three lozenges conjoined in fess Sable [Wood]; 2nd and 3rd paly bendy Or and Azure a canton Ermine [Buck]
SOURCES, NOTES & CREDITS: The illustration for background and the text are adapted from the Wikipedia article. We had considerable assistance from John Gaylor for the 2nd and 3rd quarters and pulling together of the blazon and illustration as a whole for which we thank him.
The Earldom of Halifax is one that has been created four times in British history—once in the Peerage of England, twice in the Peerage of Great Britain, and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The name of the peerage refers to the town of Halifax in West Yorkshire. The first and fourth creations were elevations for the holders of the first and second creations of the title Viscount Halifax.
The fourth creation was in 1944 for Lord Halifax, the former viceroy of India (who was the 3rd Viscount Halifax before his elevation to the earldom). He was a prominent 1930s minister, who declined the possibility of becoming Prime Minister on the resignation of Chamberlain, in favour of Churchill. Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (1881–1959).
The current earl is Charles Edward Peter Neil Wood the 3rd Earl of Halifax born in 1944. He has an heir apparent with his only son, James Charles Wood, Lord Irwin born in 1977 who has his own heir apparent with his only son, Hon. Rex Patrick Wood born in 2010.
The artwork is an interpretation of John Hamilton Gaylor.
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