The arms are those of Thomas, 5th Earl of Selkirk, born in 1771. At an early age he travelled extensively on the Continent and through the Highlands of Scotland and in 1803 visited Canada and founded a settlement on Prince Edward Island on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and another, called Baldoon, in Upper Canada. He returned home in December, 1804 and from 1806 onwards was a representative peer in the House of Lords. In 1811, having received a large grant of land from the Hudson Bay Company, he returned to Canada and founded another settlement on the Red River where the city of Winnipeg now stands. He revisited Canada in 1815 and stayed there for four years. On his return, much broken in health, he went to Pau in France.

He married, in November, 1807, Joan, daughter of James Wedderburn-Colville of Inveresk. Lord Aukland wrote to Lord Grenville on November 14, "Lord Selkirk is not much to be admired much for his politcal conduct or for his eloquence, but he is amiable and good in private life and therefore I am glad that he is to marry Miss Wedderburn, the sister and particular friend of my Louisa." These candlesticks and candelabra evidently were part of the Earl and Countess's wedding plate. The Earl died at Pau in 1820, aged 48. His widow survived until 1871 (Complete Peerage).