William Archer was born on the 26th March 1836 known as the Viscount Holmesdale from 1857 to 1886 when he succeeded and became the 3rd Earl Amherst.
Brother Archer was initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge No.10 on 5th February 1856, and joined the Invicta Lodge No.709 at Ashford, Kent, in 1860 was installed as Provincial Grand Master of Kent on the 22nd October 1860 a position he held until 1905.
In 1896 at the Grand Festival, he was appointed Deputy Grand Master by the then Most Worshipful Grand Master H.R.H Albert Edward Prince of Wales, and weas the appointed Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, in 1898 a position he held until 1908.
In the Holy Royal Arch, he was appointed the Second Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England in 1896 and held the post of Pro Grand Principal from 1898 until 1908 he was also the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Kent from 1877 until his death in 1910.
The Pro Grand Master is the representative of the Grand Master when he is unable to attend meetings. In this portrait, which was commissioned by the United Grand Lodge of England, he is wearing his peer’s robes over the uniform of a Deputy Lieutenant, he was Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, and in this image is also wearing medal for Military service in the Crimean War and the Order of St John.
