Hello

Here is a link to a webpage featuring a black and white image of a 1784 English grant of arms to Sir Benjamin Thompson, a Loyalist from New England:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/Library_Bulletin/Apr1995/page_50.GIF

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/Library_Bulletin/Apr1995/King_Rumford.html

The pages states “...in 1772… Thompson migrated once again, this time to Concord (originally Rumford), New Hampshire…..in 1792, for all these contributions, the elector of Bavaria made Benjamin Thompson a count of the Holy Roman Empire. For his title, Thompson chose Rumford, the earlier name of Concord.”

-Seb

Very interesting find, Seb!

Letters Patent wrote:

...Sir Benjamin Thompson of ... Westminster KNIGHT Colonel of the King’s American Regiment of Light Dragoons and Fellow of the Royal Society of London late Under Secretary of State Secretary of the Province of Georgia and Colonel of a Militia in the Province of New Hampshire in North America son of Benjamin Thompson late of the Province of Massachussetts Bay in New England, Gent deceased is one of the most ancient Families in North America…

More about Thompson and the Kings American Dragoons:

Colours:

http://www.royalprovincial.com/graphics/kadcol.jpg

King’s American Dragoons

Commanded by Benjamin Thompson (later Count Rumford)starting in 1781. They were in South Carolina; went into winter quarters at Huntington, Long Island, in the fall of 1782. They were evacuated from New York and resettled in St. John, New Brunswick, where they were disbanded in 1783.

http://www.nyhistory.net/~drums/kingsmen_03.htm

Roll of Lieutenant Colonel THOMPSON’s Troop, King’s American Dragoons, form’d and Compleated agreeable to an Arrangement Approv’d by His Excellency, Sir Guy CARLETON K.B., 15th June 1782.

http://www.royalprovincial.com/Military/musters/kad/kadthompson1.htm

King’s American Dragoons

Delivery of the Standards

"THE delivery of the standards of the King’s American Dragoons, to that regiment, by his Royal Highness PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY, which was performed on Thursday last at their Camp near Flushing, was a ceremony attended with such solemnity, and productive of so much real pleasure to a numerous and respectable assembly of people, that a spectator cannot omit attempting a description of it…."

http://www.royalprovincial.com/Military/rhist/kad/kadstds.htm

King’s American Dragoons Memorial of Lt. Col. Benjamin Thompson

http://www.royalprovincial.com/Military/rhist/kad/kadmem1.htm

Count Rumford had a fascinating career after he left the fledgling US.

He was already a Fellow of the Royal Society (1779) as well as a soldier. In 1784 he entered Bavarian service, where he reformed the army, drained the marshes round Mannheim and ended up head of the War Department.

Leaving Bavarian service for a short time (1795-6) he visited London where he endowed two medals to be presented by the Royal Society and two medals to be presented bythe American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

On his return to Munich, which was threatened by French and Austrian forces, he ended up President of the Council of Regency.

Leaving Bavarian service permanently in 1799 he moved to London where he founded the Royal Institution http://www.rigb.org/rimain/index.jsp which has been an important focus of scientific research and education.

In 1802 he moved to France and in 1804 married Madame Lavoisier. He died on 1814.

Rumford’s scientific research included proving the motion theory of heat (which came about through observation of cannon boring in Bavaria) and the "Rumford shadow photometer".

James

Cool.

But, I was unaware that the Monarchs of the UK used a cloak behind their arms. It is b&w, so I may be seeing it wrong, but it appears to be one behind what should be the arms of the monarch. Where can one see more on this use?

Donnchadh wrote:

Quote:

But, I was unaware that the Monarchs of the UK used a cloak behind their arms. It is b&w, so I may be seeing it wrong, but it appears to be one behind what should be the arms of the monarch. Where can one see more on this use?

They don’t now, but may have done so (and evidently did, at least on occasion, based on this patent) in the 18th century.  The manteau was used as a mark of rank of princes of the Holy Roman Empire, so its use in the British royal arms during this period may have reflected the King’s status as prince-elector of Hanover, or it may have just been the style of the time.

I tend to agree with Joe, it would be interesting to see a grant from just after the electorate of Hanover became a kingdom to see if they still used it.

Dr. Gerard Michon has a website called Escutcheons of Science at http://home.att.net/~numericana/arms/ where he is in the process of listing and emblazoning the arms of armigerous scientists.

After Seb’s post about Sir Benjamin Thompson, I gave Dr. Michon the heads-up about this armigerous scientist. Here is Dr. Michon’s page: http://home.att.net/~numericana/arms/rumford.htm

http://www.rumford.com/images/rumford.jpg

A characature of Count Rumfeld is at this page http://www.rumford.com/Rumford.html

—Guy

Count Rumford was an important figure in the history of the eponymous town (now Concord) in New Hampshire, where I was formerly resident.

The royal mantle behind the royal arms is interesting. I think I may have seen it before in a grant of arms shown in "Oxford Guide to Heraldry" (Not sure about exact title or author).

The grant was from the more or less baroque heraldic era, and it may have been just the style of the times, as Joseph McMillan said.

Though it is interesting to note that British monarchs never got around to a regular depiction of their arms within a pavillion/mantle. Perhaps to shy away from French influence? We all know France and Great Britain were not on friendly terms during the Napoleonic Era, to put it lightly!