Joseph Morrow (officer of arms)


Joseph John Morrow is the current Lord Lyon King of Arms. He was appointed to the office on 17 January 2014 and sworn in before the Lord President of the Court of Session on 27 February 2014.

Biography

Morrow is a member of the Faculty of Advocates and took silk in September 2015. In 2008 he was appointed President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland . He has previously served as Her Majesty's Commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, as a First-Tier Tribunal Judge , and as President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland.
In 2009 he was appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward until that year. He held the positions of Convenor of the Economic Development Committee, Convenor of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board, and was Depute Lord Provost during his time as an elected member.
He is incumbent of the Chapel of Glamis Castle, a former Chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin, and an Honorary Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee.
From 2004-2005 he served as the 108th Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In 2012, he was appointed Commander of the Venerable Order of St John. In December 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Knight. In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Edinburgh Napier University. In March 2018 he was appointed as the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland.
His interests include ecclesiastical history and the practical application of ceremonial to state, civil, military and ecclesiastical areas of Scottish life, together with over thirty years' experience in the field of heraldry.

Arms