Thomas Lant facts for kids
Thomas Lant (born 1554, died 1601) was a talented artist who specialized in drawing. He also worked for a long time as an important officer at the College of Arms in London. This College is where people keep records of family histories and coats of arms.
Thomas Lant was born in Gloucester and was one of seven children. When he was twelve, he became a page (a young helper) to Richard Cheney, who was the Bishop of Gloucester. After Bishop Cheney passed away in 1579, Thomas became a page again, this time for Henry Cheney. Through Lord Cheney, Thomas met a famous person named Sir Philip Sidney. Thomas and Sir Philip traveled together to the Low Countries (a region in Europe that includes modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands) in 1585. Thomas Lant was the artist who drew the entire funeral procession for Sir Philip Sidney at St Paul's Cathedral on February 16, 1587. This drawing became a famous record of the event.
Working at the College of Arms
After Sir Philip Sidney's death, Thomas Lant started working for Sir Francis Walsingham, who was a very important government official. Sir Francis helped Thomas get a job at the College of Arms on May 20, 1588. His first title was Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. A "pursuivant" is a junior officer who helps with heraldry (the study of coats of arms).
While working as Portcullis, Thomas Lant wrote a book called Observations and Collections Concerning the Office and Officers of Arms. In this book, he described the College of Arms as a place "full of discord and envy," meaning he felt there were many disagreements and jealousies among the people working there.
In 1595, Thomas Lant gave Queen Elizabeth I a special list of all the officers of arms. This list is now known as Lant's Roll, and several copies still exist today. In 1596, Thomas Lant had a big argument with another officer named Ralph Brooke, who was the York Herald of Arms. This argument even led to Thomas hitting Ralph at a place called the Middle Temple. Despite this, Thomas Lant was promoted on October 23, 1597, and became the Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary. A "herald" is a more senior officer at the College of Arms.
Later Life and Family
We don't know the exact date Thomas Lant died. We know he was alive on December 26, 1600, but it's believed he passed away early in 1601. He was married to Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Richard Houghton. They had two children, a daughter and a son. Their son, also named Thomas, was born after his father's death. This son later became a rector (a type of church leader) in Hornsey, Middlesex, and he died on May 18, 1688.
Thomas Lant's wife, Elizabeth, got married again on September 28, 1609. Her new husband was Francis Anthony, who was an alchemist (someone who studied early forms of chemistry, often trying to turn metals into gold). The marriage record says Elizabeth was 36 years old at the time and had been a widow for eight years after Thomas Lant passed away.
His Family's Coat of Arms
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- Heraldry
- Pursuivant
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