Quote Originally Posted by Gregmc View Post
Grants of arms are not so much "grants" by a sovereign as they are "requests" from a petitioner. Lord Lyon considers a grant of arms to be a grant of certain nobility: see Innes of Learny. In this instance, with respect to the US Constitution, I think that Colin Powell, who recieved his grant from LL while still serving as Secretary of State, is the only modern example of one who may have crossed that line. As for Irish Grants to sitting or past presidents, those "grants" are in no way noble or of any such considered honor: they are a matter of genealogical record only, and for that matter there has been a real stir with respect to validity of Irish grants for some time now. I see them as a matter of fun and interest for those who have a spare $5000 or so. Other than teh "nobilty clause" from Lord Lyon, I think you're right: arms are for everyone.
Each Lord Lyon is a law unto themselves and is not bound by any ruling of a previous Lord Lyon. He is not even bound by his own previous rulings. The current lord Lyon, William Sellar, does not consider his grants as conferring nobility.

Colin Powell's arms were inherited from his father who was granted arms as a memorial, as he was already deceased.

Regards

Chas