James Balfour Paul

Who was James Balfour Paul?

Sir James Balfour Paul, KCVO was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926.

Sir James was the second son of the Rev. John Paul of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh and his spouse Margaret Balfour, and was admitted an advocate in 1870. Thereafter he was Registrar of Friendly Societies, Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates, appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1890, and made a Knight Bachelor in 1900 and KCVO in 1926.

He was also admitted an Esquire of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and was a member of the Royal Societies and University Clubs. He resided at 30 Heriot Row, Edinburgh.

Sir James married, in 1872, Helen Margaret, daughter of John Nairne Forman of Staffa, WS. They had four children: three sons and a daughter. One son, John William, also became a heraldic officer, while another, Arthur Forman, became an architect and partner of Robert Rowand Anderson.

Sir James is buried with other family in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh, in the north section immediately east of the opening in the wall between the original cemetery and the north extension.