Conrad Swan
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Sir Conrad Swan Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 May 1924 Duncan, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 10 January 2019 (aged 94) |
Sir Conrad Marshall John Fisher Swan
Early life
Conrad Swan was born in 1924 at
Swan devoted much of his life to travelling. Having decided to make a lifetime career in the Indian Army, Swan was sent by the India Office (the UK governmental office responsible for India at the time) to the
Swan spent six years (1955–1961) lecturing in history at the Assumption University of Windsor, Ontario, of which he was also a University Beadle. As guest lecturer, he visited many universities, not only in North America but in every continent except Antarctica, "the penguins haven't invited me yet".[5]
Heraldic career
In addition to his educational achievements, Swan developed an exceptional heraldic career. He was first appointed
Swan was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms in 1992 on the retirement of Sir Alexander Colin Cole. His own retirement came in 1995, after having been diagnosed with cancer. At the time, some allegations were made in a newspaper article concerning his decision, in his capacity as Genealogist of the British Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, with regard to the grade in which one of his sons-in-law should enter the Order. He denied these allegations, noting that he had never been interviewed by any reporter on this subject.
Sir Conrad Swan was the first herald to execute official duties
A keen scholar and publicist, Swan wrote a number of books and articles on heraldic, sigillographic and related subjects. He was a member of several international societies and organisations and was a founder of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and the Heraldic Garden in Britain. [citation needed]
Honours and appointments
Swan was appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John (OStJ) on 8 August 1972,[6] with promotions to Commander (CStJ) on 11 December 1975 and to Knight (KStJ) on 6 April 1976.[7][8] He was appointed a Member (fourth class) of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1978 Birthday Honours list; he and all other living Members (fourth class) were re-graded as Lieutenants (LVO) in 1984.[9] He was promoted to Commander (CVO) in the 1986 New Year Honours list and was knighted by the Queen as a Knight Commander (KCVO) in the 1994 Birthday Honours.[10][11] As Swan was a dual Canadian-British national, his knighthood was theoretically subject to being blocked by the Canadian government due to the 1919 Nickle Resolution, although, in the event, the Liberal Canadian ministry did not oppose the grant.[12]
He was also a Knight Grand Cross of the
He was also a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem and Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor (1995–2000); Commander (with Star) of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit; Grand Cross with Grand Collar of the Imperial Order of the Holy Trinity (Ethiopia); Coronation Medal of the King of Tonga. He received the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine in 2005.
Family
In 1957, Swan married Lady Hilda Susan Mary Northcote (born 23 July 1937 – died 4 December 1995), Serving Sister Most Venerable Order of St. John, Dame of Honour and Devotion Sovereign Military Order of Malta; Dame of Justice (SMO) of Constantine St. George; and President, St. John's Ambulance Society Suffolk.
Lady Hilda was the younger daughter of Henry Stafford Northcote, the 3rd
They had five children:
- Mary Elizabeth Magdalen Swan (b. 1959)
- Hilda Juliana Mary Swan (b. 1961)
- Catherine Sylveria Mary Kelsey (née Swan) (1962-2021)
- Andrew Conrad Henry Joseph Swan (b. 1964)
- Anastasia Cecilia Mary Swan (b. 1966)
A King From Canada
Swan's autobiography was released in 2005. A King From Canada was published by The Memoir Club and featured a foreword by former Chief Canadian Herald Robert Watt.
Published works
- Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty, University of Toronto Press, 1977, ISBN 978-0-8020-5346-6
- A King from Canada, The Memoir Club, 2005, ISBN 978-1-84104-072-1
- The Royal Encyclopedia (48 articles), Macmillan Press, 1991, ISBN 0-333-53810-2
Arms
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See also
- Pursuivant
- Herald
- King of Arms
References
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Conrad Swan, former Garter King of Arms involved in Churchill's funeral and the investiture of the Prince of Wales". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ Peter Townend (ed.): Burke's Landed Gentry, 18th edition, London 1969, vol II, p. 591.
- ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (18 January 2019). "Sir Conrad Swan, globetrotting genealogist who brought scholarship and a romantic spirit to the College of Arms – obituary". The Telegraph.
- ^ a b Indian Army List Special Edition (August 1947). Government of India Press. 1947. p. 870.
- ^ "Sir Conrad Swan obituary".
- ^ "No. 45747". The London Gazette. 8 August 1972. p. 9450.
- ^ "No. 46760". The London Gazette. 11 December 1975. p. 15751.
- ^ "No. 46870". The London Gazette. 6 April 1976. p. 5070.
- ^ "No. 47549". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1978. p. 6232.
- ^ "No. 50361". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1985. p. 4.
- ^ "No. 53696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1994. p. 4.
- ^ "'Unaware' U.K. regrets knighting of Canadians". theglobeandmail.com. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Lady Swan dies". The Times. London, England. 6 December 1995. p. 5.
Hilda Swan, wife of Sir Conrad Swan, former Garter Principal King of Arms at the Royal College of Arms, was killed by a hit-and-run driver near her home at Boxford, Suffolk. Lady Swan, 58, was treated at the scene but died of her injuries.
- ISBN 0953784517.
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