George Bellew

The Honourable Sir George Rothe Bellew wearing a tabard as Garter Principal King of Arms

Sir George Rothe Bellew, KCB, KCVO, KStJ, FSA (13 December 1899 – 1993) was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms is London. An expert genealogist and armorist, Bellew was appointed to the office of Garter Principal King of Arms–the highest heraldic office in England and Wales.

Personal life

Bellew was the son of the Honourable Richard Eustace Bellew and Gwendoline Marie Josephine Herbert-Huddleston. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, England and at Christ Church, Oxford. On 24 September 1935, he married Ursula Kennard Cull, daughter of Anders Eric Knös Cull. Bellew's half-brother, Edward had inherited their uncle's barony of Bellew earlier that year and Bellew and his siblings were later granted the precedence of younger sons/daughters of a baron. At the outbreak of World War II he obtained the rank of Squadron Leader in the service of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. During the war he was Mentioned in Despatches several times. Bellew died in 1993 and is buried at The Church of St Benet Paul's Wharf which has been the church of the College of Arms since 1555.

Heraldic career

Bellew's first heraldic appointment was the office of Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. He held this position between 1922 and 1926. He was next appointed to the office of Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary from 1926 and 1950. From 1935, he also held the office of Registrar of the College of Arms, a position which he held until 1945. He was also the Genealogist to the Royal Victorian Order between 1945 and 1961. Bellew was also made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He was also Genealogist of the Order of the Bath between December 1950 and 1961. In 1950, he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms which office he held until July 1961.

In his capacity as Garter Principal King of Arms, he was the first person to publicly read the proclamation issued by the 1952 Accession Council declaring the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the British Throne, when the said proclamation was read at St. James' Palace.

Bellew was also made Inspector of Regimental Colours in 1957 and held the position until 1961. He was also Secretary of the Order of the Garter between 1961 and 1974.

Honours and appointments

• Member, Royal Victorian Order - 1935
• Knight, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
• Knight Bachelor - 1950
• Commander, Royal Victorian Order - 1950
• Knight Commander, Royal Victorian Order - 1953
• Knight Principal, The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor - 1957
• Knight Commander, Order of the Bath - 1961

See also

• Heraldry
• Pursuivant
• Herald
• King of Arms

References

• The College of Arms
• CUHAGS Officer of Arms Index

Heraldic offices
Preceded by Keith William Murray	Portcullis Pursuivant 1922 – 1926	Succeeded by Alfred Butler
Preceded by Everard Green	Somerset Herald 1926 – 1950	Succeeded by Michael Trappes-Lomax
Preceded by Sir Algar Henry Stafford Howard	Garter Principal King of Arms 1950 – 1961	Succeeded by Sir Anthony Richard Wagner

Preceded by Gerald Wollaston

Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor 1957-1962

Succeeded by Anthony Wagner