The regular creation of knights of the Order lasted until 1922, when most of Ireland gained independence as the Irish Free State, a dominion within what was then known as the British Commonwealth of Nations.

[citation needed] Saint Patrick is patron of the order; its motto is Quis separabit?, Latin for "Who will separate [us]?

"[1] Most British orders of chivalry cover the entire United Kingdom, but each of the three most senior ones pertains to one constituent country only.

The order was founded in 1783, a year after the grant of substantial autonomy to Ireland, as a means of rewarding (or obtaining) political support in the Irish Parliament.

The statutes of the Order restricted membership to men who were both knights and gentlemen, the latter being defined as having three generations of "noblesse" (meaning ancestors bearing coats of arms) on both their father's and mother's side.

[5] The last non-royal member appointed to the Order was James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn in 1922, who served as the first Governor of Northern Ireland.

As of 2016, the Order was considered technically extant with its head Queen Elizabeth II and one officer, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill suggested reviving the Order in 1943 to recognise the services in North Africa of General Sir Harold Alexander, a member of an Ulster Scots family from County Tyrone, but the opinion of the other ministers and civil servants was that it would upset the diplomatic balance between London and Dublin.

[19] The original statutes, based heavily on those of the Order of the Garter, prescribed that any vacancy should be filled by the sovereign upon the nomination of the members.

In practice this system was never used; the grand master would nominate a peer, the Sovereign would usually assent, and a chapter meeting was held at which the knights "elected" the new member.

[21] The Order of St Patrick initially had thirteen officers: the Prelate, the Chancellor, the Registrar, the Usher, the Secretary, the Genealogist, the King of Arms, two heralds and four pursuivants.

The Prelate was not mentioned in the original statutes, but was created by a warrant shortly afterwards, apparently because the then Archbishop asked to be appointed to the post.

In 1890, on the death of the Dean who had held the post at the time of disestablishment, the office was attached to that of the King of Arms of the Order.

The position, insofar as it related to Northern Ireland, was combined with that of Norroy King of Arms (who had heraldic jurisdiction in the north of England).

[28] The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in Ireland was distinct from the English officer of the same name, though like his counterpart he had some duties in the Irish House of Lords.

In 1831, however, William IV presented the Grand Master with a star and badge, each composed of rubies, emeralds and Brazilian diamonds.

[37] Each member of the Order, including the sovereign, was allotted a stall in the choir of the chapel, above which his (or her, in the case of Queen Victoria) heraldic devices were displayed.

After the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871, the Chapel ceased to be used; the heraldic devices of the knights at the time were left in place at the request of Queen Victoria.

[42] Since the members of the Order were required to be knights, and in practice had higher rank, many of the privileges of membership were rendered moot.

[citation needed] Knights could encircle their arms with a depiction of the circlet (a blue circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter.

(Of course, Knights of St Patrick, normally all being members of the British Royal Family or peers, were mostly entitled to supporters in any event.