Post by Trotxâ on Oct 17, 2006 18:14:37 GMT -6
John von Sonnentag de Havilland, York Herald of Arms in Ordinary (17 October 1826—18 September 1886) was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London during the 19th century. He is notable for being one of only two English officers of arms to have been born in the United States of America. Before joining the College of Arms, 'General' John de Havilland was a soldier of fortune, serving in Spain under Don Carlos and in other foreign countries.
de Havilland used a coat of arms recorded at the 1623 visitation of Gloucester. The arms are blazoned Argent three Towers triple-towered Sable Portcullises Gules. As York Herald, de Havilland impaled these with his maternal arms of von Sonnentag, blazoned Argent a Sun in splendor proper and used a Chief of Religion as a Knight of Malta in addition to setting his shield on the Maltese Cross.
de Havilland began his career as an officer of arms in 1866 when he was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. On 26 March 1872, he was promoted to the position of York Herald of Arms in Ordinary. It is also notable that de Havilland helped in the publication of the 1878 edition of Burke's General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, a standard heraldic reference work.
The first York Herald is believed to have been an officer to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York around the year 1385, but the first completely reliable reference to such a herald is in February of 1484, when John Water alias Yorke, herald was granted certain fees by Richard III. The badge of office is the white rose of York en soleil ensigned by the Royal Crown. The current York Herald of Arms in Ordinary is Henry Edgar Paston-Bedingfeld.