First Sea Lord: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
=== | ===Order in Council of 14 January, 1869=== | ||
Under the terms of the [[Order in Council of 14 January, 1869]], the First Naval Lord was granted a salary of £1,000 a year, will allowances and a house, or £1,200 a year, without a house. His duties were defined: | |||
<blockquote>The First Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the administration of so much of the business as relates to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and for the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet.</blockquote> | |||
===Order in Council of 19 March, 1872=== | |||
In 1872 it was decided to reinstitute the office of Second Naval Lord, and to remove the Controller from the Board. In accordance with the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 19 March, 1872]], the First Naval Lord's responsibilities were less clearly defined: | |||
<blockquote>The First Naval Lord, the Second Naval Lord, and the Junior Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the Administration of so much of the business relating to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and to the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet, as shall be assigned to them, from time to time, by the First Lord.</blockquote> | |||
===Order in Council of 1 January, 1904=== | |||
Under the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 1 January, 1904]], the First Naval Lord was considered responsible for: | |||
# Maritime Defence, Strategical, and all large questions of Naval Policy—to advise. | # Maritime Defence, Strategical, and all large questions of Naval Policy—to advise. | ||
| Line 24: | Line 32: | ||
# Leave to Officers and Men in Seagoing Ships.<ref>Cd. 2417. p. 4.</ref> | # Leave to Officers and Men in Seagoing Ships.<ref>Cd. 2417. p. 4.</ref> | ||
===20 October, 1904=== | ===Order in Council of 20 October, 1904=== | ||
The distribution of business was altered, so that | The distribution of business was altered, so that by [[Order in Council of 20 October, 1904]], the First Sea Lord was generally responsible for "Organisation for War and Distribution of the Fleet," and specifically responsible for: | ||
# Preparation for War: All large Questions of Naval Policy and Maritime Warfare—to advise. | # Preparation for War: All large Questions of Naval Policy and Maritime Warfare—to advise. | ||
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# The Control of the Intelligence, Hydrographical and Naval Ordnance Departments.<ref>Ibid.</ref> | # The Control of the Intelligence, Hydrographical and Naval Ordnance Departments.<ref>Ibid.</ref> | ||
By Order | ==Great War== | ||
By an [[Order in Council of 19 May, 1917]], stemming from a Board memorial of 14 May, the First Sea Lord was given the extra title of "Chief of the Naval Staff",<ref>Order in Council of 19 May, 1917.</ref> the full title later being promulgated under a further [[Order in Council of 23 October, 1917|Order in Council]] as "First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff."<ref>Order in Council of 23 October, 1917.</ref> | |||
==First Naval Lords, 1889–1904== | ==First Naval Lords, 1889–1904== | ||
Revision as of 08:11, 16 August 2011
The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff was (and remains today) the professional head of the Royal Navy. Before 1904 the holder of the position was known as Senior Naval Lord, and from 1904 to 1917 was known simply as First Sea Lord. In 1917 the First Sea Lord became Chief of the Naval Staff. The First Sea Lord was the senior naval officer on the Board of Admiralty, and served as chief naval adviser to the First Lord of the Admiralty, the politician responsible for the Navy.
History
Order in Council of 14 January, 1869
Under the terms of the Order in Council of 14 January, 1869, the First Naval Lord was granted a salary of £1,000 a year, will allowances and a house, or £1,200 a year, without a house. His duties were defined:
The First Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the administration of so much of the business as relates to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and for the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet.
Order in Council of 19 March, 1872
In 1872 it was decided to reinstitute the office of Second Naval Lord, and to remove the Controller from the Board. In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 19 March, 1872, the First Naval Lord's responsibilities were less clearly defined:
The First Naval Lord, the Second Naval Lord, and the Junior Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the Administration of so much of the business relating to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and to the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet, as shall be assigned to them, from time to time, by the First Lord.
Order in Council of 1 January, 1904
Under the provisions of the Order in Council of 1 January, 1904, the First Naval Lord was considered responsible for:
- Maritime Defence, Strategical, and all large questions of Naval Policy—to advise.
- Ships in Commission and in Fleet Reserve.
- Distribution and Organisation of the Fleet.
- Appointments of Commanders under Captains.
- General Supervision of Intelligence Department (including Naval Attachés) and of Mobilisation of the Fleet.
- Discipline—General and Special Questions.
- Courts Martial and Courts of Inquiry.
- Hydrographical Department.
- Signals.
- Collisions.
- Slaver Trade.
- Naval Ordnance Department (except as provided under Controller).
- Prize Questions.
- Leave to Officers and Men in Seagoing Ships.[1]
Order in Council of 20 October, 1904
The distribution of business was altered, so that by Order in Council of 20 October, 1904, the First Sea Lord was generally responsible for "Organisation for War and Distribution of the Fleet," and specifically responsible for:
- Preparation for War: All large Questions of Naval Policy and Maritime Warfare—to advise.
- The Fighting and Sea-going Efficiency of the Fleet, its Organisation and Mobilisation; the Distribution and Movements of all Ships in Commission or in Fleet Reserve.
- The Control of the Intelligence, Hydrographical and Naval Ordnance Departments.[2]
Great War
By an Order in Council of 19 May, 1917, stemming from a Board memorial of 14 May, the First Sea Lord was given the extra title of "Chief of the Naval Staff",[3] the full title later being promulgated under a further Order in Council as "First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff."[4]
Dates of appointment given:
- Admiral George Greville Wellesley, 6 November, 1877.[5]
- Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key, 15 August, 1879.[6]
- Admiral Sir Arthur W. A. Hood, 2 July, 1885.[7]
- Admiral Lord John Hay, 16 February, 1886.[8]
- Admiral Sir Arthur W. A. Hood, 6 August, 1886.[9]
- Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton, 26 October, 1889.[10]
- Admiral Sir Anthony H. Hoskins, 28 September, 1891.[11]
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick W. Richards, 1 November, 1893.[12]
- Admiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Kerr, 14 August, 1899.[13]
First Sea Lords, 1904–1927
- Admiral of the Fleet The Right Honourable The Lord Fisher, 20 October, 1904.[14]
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson, 25 January, 1910.[15]
- Admiral Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman, 5 December, 1911.[16]
- Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, 9 December, 1912.[17]
- Admiral of the Fleet The Right Honourable The Lord Fisher, 30 October, 1914.[18]
- Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, 27 May, 1915.[19]
- Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, 4 December, 1916.[20]
- Admiral Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss, 10 January, 1918.[21]
- Admiral of the Fleet The Right Honourable The Earl Beatty, 1 November, 1919.[22]
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles E. Madden, Bart., 30 July, 1927.[23]
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick L. Field, 30 July, 1930.[24]
- Admiral of the Fleet The Right Honourable The Lord Chatfield, 21 January, 1933.[25]
- Admiral Sir Roger R. C. Backhouse, 7 September, 1938.[26]
Footnotes
- ↑ Cd. 2417. p. 4.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Order in Council of 19 May, 1917.
- ↑ Order in Council of 23 October, 1917.
- ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. [Naval Staff.] p. 118.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Naval Staff. p. 119.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 247.
- ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
- ↑ Backhouse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 474.
Bibliography
