Esquire

Esquire (Old Fr. escuier, 'a shield-bearer'), originally the shield-bearer or armour-bearer of a knight. A knight fully equipped was in the days of chivalry attended by two esquires, whose spurs were of silver, not of gold, like the knight's. And when the sovereign created esquires, silver spurs were placed on their heels, and collars of SS round their necks. It is difficult to define exactly who in strict law is now entitled to the designation esquire. A Gentleman (q.v.) is one who bears coat-armour (insignia gentilitia), but not every gentleman is an esquire. Blackstone quotes with approval Camden's definition of four classes of esquires: (1) 'The eldest sons of knights, and their eldest sons in perpetual succession. (2) The eldest sons of younger sons of peers, and their eldest sons in like perpetual succession; both which species of esquires Sir Henry Spelman entitles armigeri natalitii. (3) Esquires created by the king's letters-patent or other investiture, and their eldest sons. (4) Esquires by virtue of their offices, as justices of the peace, and others who bear any office of trust under the crown.' 'To these,' continues Blackstone, 'may be added the esquires of Knights of the Bath, each of whom constitutes three at his installation, and all foreign, nay Irish peers.' The mention by Blackstone of Irish peers arises from the fact that peers of Ireland were before the Union legally foreigners. Camden's third class no longer exists, creation by letters-patent or investiture having long ago ceased. Christian, in his notes to Blackstone, would limit the holders of 'offices of trust under the crown' to those who are styled esquires by the king in their commissions, and he remarks the omission in Blackstone's enumeration of baristers, who have been decided by the Court of King's Bench to be esquires by office. No esquires to Knights of the Bath have been appointed since 1812, and by the statutes of 1847 these knights have no longer the power to nominate them. It is needless to add that in common usage the designation of esquire is loosely given in the present day, both in Britain with its colonies and in the United States, to all persons supposed to be in comfortable circumstances.