Richard Graham-Vivian
Encyclopedia
Richard Preston Graham-Vivian, MVO
, MC
(10 August 1896 – 1979) was a long-serving English
officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
. He was the younger son of Sir Richard James Graham, 4th Baronet
, and Lady Mabel Cynthia Duncombe. During the First World War he served as an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
and was awarded the Military Cross
. He relinquished his commission on 17 January 1919. On 7 December 1921, he married Audrey Emily Vivian, who was an only daughter, and the source of the second surname
that the couple adopted in 1929 (by Royal Licence). His heraldic
career began in 1933 when he was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
at the College of Arms. He held this office until 7 February 1947, other than for a period of leave when he returned to the army during the Second World War. On that date, he was promoted to the office of Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary
to fill the vacancy left by the death of Alfred Trego Butler
. He remained a herald in ordinary
until 1966, when he was made Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
on the retirement
of Aubrey John Toppin
. Graham-Vivian would hold this office until his own retirement 1971. He was made an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John
in 1949. In the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
he was made a Member (fourth class) of the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO). He died in 1979.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(10 August 1896 – 1979) was a long-serving English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer of arms
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...
. He was the younger son of Sir Richard James Graham, 4th Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, and Lady Mabel Cynthia Duncombe. During the First World War he served as an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He relinquished his commission on 17 January 1919. On 7 December 1921, he married Audrey Emily Vivian, who was an only daughter, and the source of the second surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
that the couple adopted in 1929 (by Royal Licence). His heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
career began in 1933 when he was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms in London. The office is reputed to have been created by King Henry V to serve the Order of the Garter, but there is no documentary evidence of this. There is, however, mention of an officer styled...
at the College of Arms. He held this office until 7 February 1947, other than for a period of leave when he returned to the army during the Second World War. On that date, he was promoted to the office of Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Windsor Herald
Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. It has been suggested that the office was instituted specifically for the Order of the Garter in 1348, or that it predates the Order and was in use as early as 1338...
to fill the vacancy left by the death of Alfred Trego Butler
Alfred Butler
Alfred Trego Butler MVO, MC, FSA was a genealogist and officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Early and personal life:...
. He remained a herald in ordinary
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....
until 1966, when he was made Norroy and Ulster 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 the retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
of Aubrey John Toppin
Aubrey Toppin
Aubrey John Toppin, CVO, FSA was a long-serving English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.Toppin was born in Twickenham in 1881. His first job was at the Science and Art Museum, Dublin from 1901 to 1906, until he gained the post of First Assistant to the Keeper of Irish Antiqities...
. Graham-Vivian would hold this office until his own retirement 1971. He was made an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 1949. In the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
he was made a Member (fourth class) of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO). He died in 1979.