List of ministers to Elizabeth I


This is a list of the principal government ministers during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, 1558 to 1603. From the outset of her reign, her chief minister was Sir William Cecil, later Lord Burghley. He died in 1598 and was succeeded by his son Sir Robert Cecil.
OfficeNameDateNotes
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir Nicholas Bacon1558
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir Thomas Bromley1579
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir Christopher Hatton1587
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
in commission1591
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir John Puckering1592
Lord Chancellor
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir Thomas Egerton1596
Lord TreasurerThe Marquess of Winchestercontinued in office
Lord TreasurerThe Lord Burghley1572
Lord TreasurerThe Lord Buckhurst1599
Lord Privy SealSir Nicholas Bacon1558
Lord Privy SealThe Lord Burghley1571
Lord Privy SealThe Lord Howard of Effingham1572
Lord Privy SealSir Thomas Smith1573
Lord Privy SealFrancis Walsingham1576knighted in 1577
Lord Privy SealThe Lord Burghley1590
Lord Privy SealSir Robert Cecil1598
Secretary of StateSir William Cecil1558
Secretary of StateSir Thomas Smith1572
Secretary of StateSir Thomas Smith
Francis Walsingham
1573
Secretary of StateSir Francis Walsingham
Thomas Wilson
1577
Secretary of StateSir Francis Walsingham1581
Secretary of StateSir Francis Walsingham
William Davison
1586
Secretary of StateSir Francis Walsingham1587
Secretary of Statevacant1590
Secretary of StateSir Robert Cecil1596
Chancellor of the ExchequerSir Richard Sackville
Chancellor of the ExchequerSir Walter Mildmay1566
Chancellor of the ExchequerSir John Fortescue1589
Lord High AdmiralThe Lord Clinton1558created Earl of Lincoln in 1572
Lord High AdmiralThe Lord Howard of Effingham1585created Earl of Nottingham in 1596
Master-General of the OrdnanceSir Richard Southwellcontinued in office
Master-General of the OrdnanceThe Earl of Warwick1560
Master-General of the OrdnanceThe Earl of Warwick
Sir Philip Sidney
1585
Master-General of the OrdnanceThe Earl of Warwick1586
Master-General of the Ordnancevacant1590
Master-General of the OrdnanceSir Robert Cecil1598
Master-General of the OrdnanceThe Earl of Essex1597
Master-General of the Ordnancevacant1601
Lord StewardThe Earl of Arundelcontinued in office
Lord StewardThe Earl of Pembroke1568
Lord Stewardvacant1570
Lord StewardThe Earl of Leicester1587
Lord StewardLord St John of Basing1588
Lord ChamberlainThe Lord Howard of Effinghamcontinued in office
Lord ChamberlainThe Earl of Sussex1572
Lord ChamberlainThe 1st Lord Hunsdon1585
Lord ChamberlainThe 2nd Lord Cobham1596
Lord ChamberlainThe 2nd Lord Hunsdon1597
Cofferer of the HouseholdSir Henry Cockeby 1572
Cofferer of the HouseholdJohn Habington1580-81 -
Master of the HorseLord Robert Dudley1558created Earl of Leicester in 1564
Master of the HorseThe Earl of Essex1588
Master of the HorseThe Earl of Worcester1602

Other important ministers were Sir Francis Knollys and James Windebank.