List of lords commissioners of the Admiralty


This is a list of lords commissioners of the Admiralty.
The lords commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised the office of Lord High Admiral when it was not vested in a single person. The commissioners were a mixture of politicians without naval experience and professional naval officers, the proportion of naval officers generally increasing over time. In 1940, the Secretary of the Admiralty, a civil servant, became a member of the Board. The Lord High Admiral, and thus the Board of Admiralty, ceased to have operational command of the Royal Navy when the three service ministries were merged into the Ministry of Defence in 1964, when the office of Lord High Admiral reverted to the Crown.

1628 to 1641

  • 20 September 1628: Commission.
  • *Richard Weston, 1st Baron Weston, First Lord
  • *Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey
  • *Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset
  • *Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington
  • *Sir Henry Vane
  • *Sir John Coke
  • *Sir Francis Windebank
  • 10 April 1635: Commission.
  • *Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey, First Lord
  • *others
  • 16 March 1636: Commission
  • *William Juxon, First Lord
  • *others
  • 13 April 1638: Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland, Lord High Admiral

    1641 to 1661

From the appointment of Warwick until 1660, appointments during this period were made by Parliament or a part thereof.
  • 7 December 1643: Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral
  • 15 April 1645: Commission.
  • *Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
  • *Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
  • *William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele
  • *Dudley North, 3rd Baron North
  • *William Earle
  • *Philip Stapleton
  • *John Evelyn, Jr.
  • *Christopher Wray, MP
  • *John Rolle
  • *Giles Grene
  • *D. Hollis
  • *John Selden, MP
  • *F. Rouse
  • *Thomas Eden, MP
  • *T. Lisle
  • *Bulstrode Whitelocke, MP
  • 28 April 1645: Commission
  • *Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
  • *Alexander Bence
  • *Squire Bence
  • *H. Pelham
  • 12 February 1649: Commission
  • *_ Dean
  • *Francis Popham
  • *Colonel Robert Blake
  • 23 February 1649: Powers transferred to the Council of State
  • 3 December 1653:
  • *General Robert Blake
  • *General George Monck
  • *Major-General John Desborow
  • *Vice-Admiral William Penn
  • *Colonel Philip Jones
  • *Colonel John Clerk
  • *John Stone
  • *Major William Burton
  • *Vincent Gooking
  • *Lieutenant-Colonel Kelsey
  • November 1655: During the Protectorate
  • *John Lambert
  • *William Sydenham
  • *John Desborough
  • *Philipp Jones
  • *Thomas Kelsey
  • *Edward Salmon
  • *Edward Montague
  • *General George Monck
  • *General Robert Blake
  • *John Clerke
  • *Governor Edward Hopkins

    1661 to 1681

  • 29 January 1661: James, Duke of York and Albany, Lord High Admiral
  • 9 July 1673: Commission.
  • *Prince Rupert of the Rhine
  • *Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury
  • *Thomas, 1st Viscount Osborne
  • *Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
  • *George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
  • *James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
  • *John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale
  • *James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
  • *Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
  • *Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet
  • *Henry Coventry
  • *Edward Seymour
  • 31 October 1674: Commission.
  • *Prince Rupert
  • *Heneage Finch, 1st Baron Finch
  • *Thomas Osborne, 1st Earl of Danby
  • *Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
  • *George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
  • *James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
  • *John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale
  • *James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
  • *Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
  • *Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet
  • *Henry Coventry
  • *Sir Joseph Williamson
  • *Edward Seymour
  • 26 September 1677: Commission.
  • *Prince Rupert
  • *Heneage Finch, 1st Baron Finch
  • *Thomas Osborne, 1st Earl of Danby
  • *Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
  • *James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
  • *John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale
  • *James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
  • *Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory
  • *Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
  • *Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet
  • *Henry Coventry
  • *Sir Joseph Williamson
  • *Sir John Ernle
  • *Sir Thomas Chicheley
  • *Edward Seymour
  • 14 May 1679: Commission.
  • *Sir Henry Capell, First Lord
  • *Daniel Finch
  • *Sir Thomas Lee, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Thomas Meres
  • *Edward Vaughan
  • *Edward Hales

    1681 to 1701

  • 19 February 1681: Commission.
  • *Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, First Lord
  • *Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Thomas Meres
  • *Edward Hales
  • *William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker
  • *Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet
  • 20 January 1682: Commission.
  • *Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, First Lord
  • *Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Thomas Meres
  • *Edward Hales
  • *William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker
  • *Henry Savile
  • *Sir John Chicheley, Naval Lord
  • 22 August 1683: Commission.
  • *Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, First Lord
  • *Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Thomas Meres
  • *Edward Hales
  • *William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker
  • *Henry Savile
  • *Sir John Chicheley, Naval Lord
  • *Arthur Herbert, Naval Lord
  • 17 April 1684: Commission.
  • *Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, First Lord
  • *Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir Thomas Meres
  • *Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet
  • *Henry Savile
  • *Sir John Chicheley, Naval Lord
  • *Arthur Herbert, Naval Lord
  • *John Vaughan, Baron Vaughan
  • 19 May 1684: King Charles II
  • 6 February 1685: King James II
  • 13 February 1689: King William III
  • 8 March 1689: Commission.
  • *Arthur Herbert, First Lord and Senior Naval Lord
  • *John Vaughan, 3rd Earl of Carbery
  • *Sir Michael Warton
  • *Sir Thomas Lee, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir John Chicheley, Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *William Sacheverell
  • 20 January 1690: Commission.
  • *Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, First Lord
  • *John Vaughan, 3rd Earl of Carbery
  • *Sir Thomas Lee, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir John Chicheley, Senior Naval Lord
  • 5 June 1690: Commission.
  • *Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, First Lord
  • *John Vaughan, 3rd Earl of Carbery
  • *Sir Thomas Lee, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Edward Russell, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Naval Lord
  • 23 January 1691: Commission.
  • *Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, First Lord
  • *Sir Thomas Lee, 1st Baronet
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland
  • *Robert Austen
  • 16 November 1691: Commission.
  • *Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, First Lord
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland
  • *Robert Austen
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • 10 March 1692: Commission.
  • *Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis, First Lord
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland
  • *Robert Austen
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • 15 April 1693: Commission.
  • *Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland, First Lord
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Robert Austen
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Killigrew, Naval Lord
  • *Sir Ralph Delaval, Naval Lord
  • 2 May 1694: Commission.
  • *Edward Russell, First Lord and Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  • *Henry Priestman, Naval Lord
  • *Robert Austen
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir George Rooke, Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Houblon
  • 24 February 1696: Commission.
  • *Edward Russell, First Lord and Senior Naval Lord
  • *Henry Priestman, Naval Lord
  • *Robert Austen
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir George Rooke, Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Houblon
  • *James Kendall
  • 5 June 1697: Commission.
  • *Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, First Lord and Senior Naval Lord
  • *Henry Priestman, Naval Lord
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir George Rooke, Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Houblon
  • *James Kendall
  • *Goodwin Wharton
  • 31 May 1699: Commission.
  • *John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater, First Lord
  • *John Thompson, 1st Baron Haversham
  • *Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Baronet
  • *Sir George Rooke, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir David Mitchell, Naval Lord
  • 28 October 1699: Commission.
  • *John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater, First Lord
  • *ohn Thompson, 1st Baron Haversham
  • *Sir George Rooke, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir David Mitchell, Naval Lord
  • *George Churchill, Naval Lord

    1701 to 1721

  • 4 April 1701: Commission.
  • *Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, First Lord
  • *John Thompson, 1st Baron Haversham
  • *Sir George Rooke, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir David Mitchell, Naval Lord
  • *George Churchill, Naval Lord
  • 26 January 1702: [Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, Lord High Admiral
  • 20 May 1702: Prince George, Lord High Admiral
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 22 May 1702:
  • **Sir George Rooke Senior Member
  • **Sir David Mitchell
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 29 March 1703:
  • **Sir George Rooke Senior Member
  • **Sir David Mitchell
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **James Brydges
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 30 April 1704:
  • **Sir George Rooke Senior Member
  • **Sir David Mitchell
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **James Brydges
  • **Henry Paget
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 26 December 1704:
  • **Sir George Rooke Senior Member
  • **Sir David Mitchell
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **James Brydges
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir Cloudesley Shovell
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 11 June 1705:
  • **Sir David Mitchell Senior Member
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir Cloudesley Shovell
  • **Robert Walpole
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 8 February 1706:
  • **Sir David Mitchell Senior Member
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir Cloudesley Shovell
  • **Robert Walpole
  • **Sir Stafford Fairborne
  • 28 June 1707: Prince George, Lord High Admiral
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 28 June 1707
  • **Sir David Mitchell Senior Member
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir Cloudesley Shovell
  • **Robert Walpole
  • **Sir Stafford Fairborne
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 19 April 1708:
  • **David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss Senior Member
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir Stafford Fairborne
  • **Sir John Leake
  • *Council of the Lord High Admiral, 20 June 1708:
  • **David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss Senior Member
  • **George Churchill
  • **Richard Hill
  • **Henry Paget
  • **Sir John Leake
  • **Sir James Wishart
  • **Robert Fairfax
  • 28 October 1708: Queen Anne, Lord High Admiral
  • 29 November 1708: Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke, Lord High Admiral, Senior Member
  • 8 November 1709: Commission.
  • *Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, First Lord
  • *Sir John Leake, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Naval Lord
  • *George Dodington
  • *Paul Methuen
  • 4 October 1710: Commission.
  • *Sir John Leake, Naval Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Senior Naval Lord
  • *George Dodington
  • *Paul Methuen
  • *Sir William Drake, 4th Baronet
  • *John Aislabie
  • 20 December 1710: Commission.
  • *Sir John Leake, Naval Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir William Drake, 4th Baronet
  • *John Aislabie
  • *Sir James Wishart, Naval Lord
  • *George Clarke
  • 30 September 1712: Commission.
  • *Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, First Lord
  • *Sir John Leake, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Naval Lord
  • *Sir William Drake, 4th Baronet
  • *John Aislabie
  • *Sir James Wishart, Naval Lord
  • *George Clarke
  • 19 January 1714: Commission.
  • *Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, First Lord
  • *Sir John Leake, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir William Drake, 4th Baronet
  • *John Aislabie
  • *Sir James Wishart, Naval Lord
  • *George Clarke
  • 9 April 1714: Commission.
  • *Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, First Lord
  • *Sir John Leake, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir William Drake, 4th Baronet
  • *Sir James Wishart, Naval Lord
  • *George Clarke
  • *Sir George Beaumont, 4th Baronet
  • 14 October 1714: Commission.
  • *Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, First Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Senior Naval Lord
  • *George Dodington
  • *Sir John Jennings, Naval Lord
  • *Sir Charles Turner, 1st Baronet
  • *Abraham Stanyan
  • *George Baillie
  • 16 April 1717: Commission.
  • *James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley, First Lord
  • *Matthew Aylmer, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Naval Lord
  • *John Cockburn
  • *William Richard Chetwynd
  • 19 March 1718: Commission.
  • *James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley, First Lord
  • *Sir George Byng, Senior Naval Lord
  • *Sir John Jennings, Naval Lord
  • *John Cockburn
  • *William Richard Chetwynd
  • *Sir John Norris, Naval Lord
  • *Sir Charles Wager, Naval Lord