Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

With their Managing Owners, Commanders, Principal Officers, Surgeons, Pursers, Time of coming afoat, &c.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

[graphic]

LONDON Published for the European Magazine by J. Asperne,32 Cornbill Jan 1819.

Sir Isaac Heard

Engraved by Thomsen from an original painting by AWDevis Esq"

EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR DECEMBER, 1818.

MEMOIR OF

SIR ISAAC HEARD, KNIGHT,

GARTER PRINCIPAL KING OF ARMS.

(WITH A PORTRAIT, ENGRAVED BY THOMSON, FROM AN ORIGINAL PAINTING BY A. W. DEVIS.]

THERE

HERE are certain stations in life which, however dignified they may be, seldom offer to men of genius and talents opportunities of distinguishing themselves in a manner so as at once to fix their names in a conspicuous place within the Temple of Fame. But a man of real talents, steady mind, and sterling merit will, in such stations, always so comport himself as to reflect upon the honourable office which he fills as great a lustre as that which he himself receives from it. He seems to make destiny his own by an unbiassed regularity of conduct; and, conscious of the rectitude of his actions, leaves to others the doubtful chance of a greater reputation, and the brighter effulgence of a more splendid name.

[ocr errors]

The office of Garter King of Arms, which is as honourable as it is ancient, was instituted by our renowned King Henry the Fifth; who, for the dignity of the Most Noble Order from which it derived its title, annexed to it the character of Principal Officer within the Office of Arms, and Chief of all the Servants of Arms." Men of great literary and antiquarian acquirements have filled the office of Garter; and, among others, the name of Dugdale will be respected as long as a laborious research into the historical antiquities of our country, the preservation of a knowledge of its ancient customs, and great topographical learning rendered practically useful to mankind, shall entitle men to the gratitude of posterity.

There are, we believe, but few, if any, instances where the office of Garter has been held for so long a pe

riod as by the present Head of the College of Arms; and we may presume to say, with confidence, that it has never been filled by an individual who has discharged its duties with more dignity, or evinced more zeal for the credit and honour of the department over which Garter presides.

The subject of this Memoir was born at Ottery St. Mary, in the county of Devon, on the 10th of December (old style) 1130, and, we understand, his early pursuits in life, which cir cumstances following each other in rapid succession rendered as various as they were active, appeared to lead to a profession very different from that which he ultimately embraced. He was brought up at the Honiton Grammar School, under the Rev. Mr. Lewis, and, at the age of fifteen, he entered the navy as a volunteer on board his Majesty's ship Lynn, commanded by Captain Robert Man, afterwards one of the Lords of the Admiralty, in which ship he served as a Midshipman from the month of July 1740 to the middle of the year 1148.-In the course of this service, the Lynn being employed in the Mediterranean, he had the opportunity of viewing the Greek Islands, the romantic coasts of the Adriatic as well as the Coast of Asia, and the southern and western shores of Italy, and derived all that ardent satisfaction of which young minds are more peculiarly susceptible upon visiting the scenes of their recent studies

a proof of this may be found in the lively impression which still remains of the interesting objects which came under his observation in these

classic regions; subjects which, after a lapse of upwards of seventy years, are still dwelt on with that vivacity and fervour which generally belong, exclusively, to youth. la 1749, he continued his service in the navy in the Blandford man of war, which ship was ordered upon a service on the coast of Guinea; where, in the month of August 1750, an accident occurred which had nearly proved fatal to the young candidate for naval fame. From the effect of one of those sudden and dreadful tornados with which that region is visited, he was carried overboard with the main-mast of the ship, whilst standing on the top-sail yard encouraging the seamen to their duty. But, by one of those interpositions of Providence by which the life of man is often preserved, and at the moment when the attention of the whole crew was directed to disencumber the vessel from the wreck, the young midshipman was observed, inveloped in the shattered rigging, floating alongside the ship; and he owed his immediate rescue to the humane hand of his shipmate the late Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill; with whom such an event could not fail to produce that warm friendship and regard which existed between them down to the moment of the gallant Admiral's death.*

In the year 1751, a period of profound peace affording no encourage ment to continue his naval career, the subject of this memoir proceeded to Bilboa, in Spain, in a mercantile pursuit, and, having soon after established himself there, he made several voyages in the course of the five succeeding years, across the Atlantic, with a view of opening a correspondence with Boston and other places 10 America. His prospects were approaching the accomplishment of his wishes, when the war. which broke out between this country and Spain in the year 1757, frustrated his speculations in a country where there was in consequence no

In allusion to this extraordinary event the following Arms were assigned to Sir Isane Heard, after he became Lancaster Herald, in the year 1762; viz. Argeut, in base a Figure representing Neptune,

with an eastern Crown Gold his Trident Sable headed or, issuing from a Stormy Ocean, the left Hand grasping the Head of a Ship's Mast appearing above the waves as part of a wreck proper; on a Chief Azure the Arctie Polar Star of the first, with the motto Naufragus in Portums' "

[ocr errors]

protection of the property or security for the person of an Englishman. He was, therefore, compelled to make a hurried retreat to England; and, having lost whatever he had realised at Bilboa, he engaged himself with a merchant in the city, where be remained until 1759. At this period he was introduced to the notice of Thomas Earl of Effingham, (then exercising the office of Earl Marshal, for Edward Duke of Norfolk), who was pleased to appoint him to the office of Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms on the 5th of December in the same year; and whose esteem and confidence he had the hap piness to enjoy down to the death of that nobleman, whose successor Thomas also Earl of Effingham, and Deputy Earl Marshal, honoured him with the same marks of favour and regard.

He continued a Pursuivant until the 3d of July 1761, when he became Lan. caster Herald, in which situation he attended the coronation of our venera. ble monarch and the late Queen, on the 22d of September following.

In March 1770, he intermarried with his first wife Katherine, the second daughter of Andrew Tyler, of Boston, in new England, Gent. (by Myriam his wife, sister of Sir William Pepperell, Bart.) and widow of David Ochteriony, of Boston, Gent. He had no issue by this lady, who died 30th October, 1783 but of three sons, by her former has band, who were brought up under his immediate care, he has derived all the satisfaction of a father, and enjoys the warm attachment of a son, in the person of the only survivor of them, Major-General Sir David Ochterlony : whose distinguished services in India have acquired for him the highest distinctions ever conferred by the sove reign on a Company's officer; namely. that of Baronet, and of Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

On the 18th of October, 1774, he was promoted to the office of Norroy King of Arms, and was about the same period appointed Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod of the Order of the Bath, and Brunswick Herald.*

the office of Clarenceux King of Arms, In 1780, he was further promoted to

* The offices of Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod and Breuswick Herald he has since resigned in favour of a gentleman who has been long attached to him both na an official assistant and a friend,

« ZurückWeiter »