Lord Privy Seal

Sinecure office of state in the UK

For other uses, see Lord Privy Seal (disambiguation).

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United Kingdom
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government

Incumbent
The Baroness Smith of Basildon
since 5 July 2024

Style| The Right Honourable
Type| Great Officer of State
Appointer| The King
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length| At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation| 1307
First holder| William Melton
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The Lord Privy Seal (or, more formally, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. Originally, its holder was responsible for the monarch's personal (privy) seal (as opposed to the Great Seal of the Realm, which is in the care of the lord chancellor) until the use of such a seal became obsolete. Though one of the oldest offices in European governments, it has no particular function today because the use of a privy seal has been obsolete for centuries; it may be regarded as a traditional sinecure, but today, the holder of the office is invariably given a seat in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, and is sometimes referred to as a minister without portfolio.

Since the premiership of Clement Attlee, the position of Lord Privy Seal has frequently been combined with that of leader of the House of Lords or leader of the House of Commons. The office of Lord Privy Seal, unlike those of leader of the Lords or Commons, is eligible for a ministerial salary under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975.[1] The office does not confer membership of the House of Lords, leading to Ernest Bevin's remark on holding this office that he was "neither a Lord, nor a Privy, nor a Seal".[2][3]

During the reign of Edward I, prior to 1307, the privy seal was kept by the controller of the wardrobe.[4] The Lord Privy Seal was the president of the Court of Requests during its existence.

## List of Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal

[edit]

### Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (c. 1307–1714)

[edit]

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal  Lord Keeper  | Term of office  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|

William Melton | 1307  | 1312  | Edward II

r. 1307–1327
Roger Northburgh | 1312  | 1316
Thomas Charlton | 1316  | 1320
Robert Baldock
Archdeacon of Middlesex | 1320  | 1323
Robert Wodehouse | 1323  | 1323
Robert Ayleston | 1323  | 1324
William Ayermin | 1324  | 1325
Henry de Cliff | 1325  | 1325
William Herlaston | 1325  | 1326
Robert Wyvil | 1326  | 1327
Richard Airmyn | 1327  | 1328  | Edward III

r. 1327–1377
Adam de Lymbergh | 1328  | 1329
Richard Bury
Bishop of Durham | 1329  | 1334
Robert Ayleston | 1334  | 1334
Robert Tawton | 1334  | 1335
William de la Zouch | 1335  | 1337
Richard Bintworth | 1337  | 1338
William Kilsby | 1338  | 1342
John de Ufford | 1342  | 1344
Thomas Hatfield | 1344  | 1345
John Thoresby
Master of the Rolls | 1345  | 1347
Simon Islip
Archbishop of Canterbury | 1347  | 1350
Michael Northburgh
Archdeacon of Suffolk | 1350  | 1354
Thomas Bramber | 1354  | 1355
John Winwick | 1355  | 1360
John Buckingham
Bishop of Lincoln | 1360  | 1363
William of Wykeham
Archdeacon of Lincoln | 1363  | 1367
Peter Lacy | 1367  | 1371
Nicholas Carew
MP for Surrey | 1371  | 1377
John Fordham | 1377  | 1381  | Richard II

r. 1377–1399
William Dighton | 1381  | 1382
Walter Skirclaw
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield | 1382  | 1386
John Waltham
Bishop of Salisbury | 1386  | 1389
Edmund Stafford
Bishop of Exeter | 1389  | 1396
Guy Mone | 1396  | 1397
Richard Clifford
Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1397  | 1401
Henry IV

r. 1399–1413
Thomas Langley | 1401  | 1405
Nicholas Bubwith | 1405  | 1406
John Prophet
Dean of York | 1406  | 1415
Henry V

r. 1413–1422
John Wakering
Bishop of Norwich | 1415  | 1416
Henry Ware | 1416  | 1418
John Kemp
Bishop of Rochester | 1418  | 1421
John Stafford | 1421  | 1422
William Alnwick
Bishop of Norwich [nb 1] | 1422  | 1432  | Henry VI

r. 1422–1461
William Lyndwood
Bishop of St David's [nb 2] | 1432  | 1443
Thomas Beckington
Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1443  | 1444
Adam Moleyns
Bishop of Chichester [nb 3] | 1444  | 1450
Andrew Holes
Archdeacon of York | 1450  | 1452
Thomas Lisieux
Dean of St Paul's | 1452  | 1456
Laurence Booth
Bishop of Durham [nb 4] | 1456  | 1460
Robert Stillington
Bishop of Bath and Wells [nb 5] | 1460  | 1467
Edward IV

r. 1461–1470
Thomas Rotherham
Bishop of Rochester [nb 6] | 1467  | 1470
John Hales
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield | 1470  | 1471  | Henry VI

r. 1470–1471
Thomas Rotherham
Bishop of Lincoln [nb 7] | 1471  | 1474  | Edward IV

r. 1471–1483
John Russell
Bishop of Lincoln [nb 8] | 1474  | 1483
Edward V

r. 1483
John Gunthorpe
Dean of Wells | 1483  | 1485
Richard III

r. 1483–1485
Peter Courtenay
Bishop of Exeter | 1485  | 1487  | Henry VII

r. 1485–1509
Richard Foxe
Bishop of Winchester [nb 9] | 1487  | 1516
Henry VIII

r. 1509–1547
Thomas Ruthall
Bishop of Durham | 1516  | 1523
Henry Marney
1st Baron Marney | 1523  | 1523
Cuthbert Tunstall
Bishop of London | 1523  | 1530
Thomas Boleyn
1st Earl of Wiltshire | 1530  | 1536
Thomas Cromwell
1st Earl of Essex[nb 10] | 1536  | 1540
William FitzWilliam
1st Earl of Southampton | 1540  | 1542
John Russell
1st Earl of Bedford[nb 11] | 1542  | 1555
Edward VI

r. 1547–1553
Mary I

r. 1553–1558
William Paget
1st Baron Paget | 1555  | 1558
Nicholas Bacon | 1558  | 1571  | Elizabeth I

r. 1558–1603
William Cecil
1st Baron Burghley | 1571  | 1572
William Howard
1st Baron Howard of Effingham | 1572  | 1573
Thomas Smith
MP for Essex | 1573  | 1576
Francis Walsingham
MP for Surrey | 1576  | 1590
William Cecil
1st Baron Burghley | 1590  | 1598
Robert Cecil
1st Earl of Salisbury | 1598  | 1608
James I

r. 1603–1625
Henry Howard
1st Earl of Northampton | 1608  | 1614
Robert Carr
1st Earl of Somerset | 1614  | 1616
Edward Somerset
4th Earl of Worcester | 1616  | 1625
John Coke
MP for Cambridge University | 1625  | 1628  | Charles I

r. 1625–1649
Robert Naunton | 1628  | 1628
Henry Montagu
1st Earl of Manchester | 1628  | 1642
Lucius Cary
2nd Viscount Falkland | 1643  | 1643
Edward Nicholas[nb 12] | 1643  | 1644
Henry Bourchier
5th Earl of Bath | 1644  | 1646
[nb 13]
Interregnum
Commissioners of Parliament's Great Seal | 1646 | 1660 | Charles II

Court in exile
John Robartes
2nd Baron Robartes | 1660  | 1673  | Charles II

r. 1660–1685
Arthur Annesley
1st Earl of Anglesey | 1673  | 1682
George Savile
1st Marquess of Halifax | 1682  | 1685
Henry Hyde
2nd Earl of Clarendon | 1685  | 1687  | James II

r. 1685–1688
Henry Arundell
3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour | 1687  | 1688
George Savile
1st Marquess of Halifax | 1689  | 1690  | Mary II

r. 1689–1694

William III

r. 1689–1702
Thomas Herbert
8th Earl of Pembroke | 1692  | 1699
John Lowther
1st Viscount Lonsdale | 1699  | 1700
Ford Grey
1st Earl of Tankerville | 1700  | 1701
John Sheffield
1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby[nb 14] | 1702  | 1705  | Anne

r. 1702–1714
John Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne | 1705  | 1711
John Robinson
Bishop of Bristol | 1711  | 1713
William Legge
1st Earl of Dartmouth | 1713  | 1714

### Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (1714–present)

[edit]

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal  Lord Keeper  | Term of office  | Other ministerial portfolios held during tenure  | Party  | Ministry  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|
|
|
|

|  | Thomas Wharton
1st Marquess of Wharton[nb 15] | 23 September
1714  | 31 August
1715  |  | Whig | Townshend | George I

r. 1714–1727
|  | Charles Spencer
3rd Earl of Sunderland | 31 August
1715  | 19 December
1716  |  | —
|  | Evelyn Pierrepont
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 19 December
1716  | 6 February
1719  |  | —
Stanhope–Sunderland I
Stanhope–Sunderland II
|  | Henry Grey
1st Duke of Kent | 6 February
1719  | 11 June
1720  |  | —
|  | Evelyn Pierrepont
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 11 June
1720  | 11 March
1726  |  | —
Walpole–Townshend
|  | Thomas Trevor
1st Baron Trevor | 11 March
1726  | 8 May
1730  |  | —
George II

r. 1727–1760
|  | Spencer Compton
1st Earl of Wilmington | 8 May
1730  | January
1731  |  | Whig | Walpole
|  | William Cavendish
3rd Duke of Devonshire | 12 January
1731  | 5 May
1733  |  | Whig
|  | Henry Lowther
3rd Viscount Lonsdale | 5 May
1733  | 16 May
1735  |  | —
|  | Francis Godolphin
2nd Earl of Godolphin | 16 May
1735  | 7 April
1740  |  | —
|  | John Hervey
2nd Baron Hervey | 7 April
1740  | 13 July
1742  |  | —
|  | John Leveson-Gower
2nd Baron Gower | 13 July
1742  | 10 December
1743  |  | Tory | Carteret
|  | George Cholmondeley
3rd Earl of Cholmondeley | 10 December
1743  | 27 December
1744  |  | —
|  | John Leveson-Gower
1st Earl Gower[nb 16] | 27 December
1744  | 8 June
1755  |  | Tory | Broad Bottom
(I & II)
Newcastle I
|  | Charles Spencer
3rd Duke of Marlborough | 8 June
1755  | 22 December
1755  |  | —
|  | Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd  Earl Gower | 22 December
1755  | 30 June
1757  |  | Tory
Pitt–Devonshire
1757 Caretaker
|  | Richard Grenville-Temple
2nd Earl Temple | 30 June
1757  | 5 October
1761  |  | —  | Pitt–Newcastle
George III

(1760–1820)
[nb 17]
|  | John Russell
4th Duke of Bedford | 25 November
1761  | 22 April
1763  |  | Whig
Bute
|  | George Spencer
4th Duke of Marlborough | 22 April
1763  | 30 July
1765  |  | —  | Grenville
(Whig–Tory)
|  | Thomas Pelham-Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle | 30 July
1765  | 30 July
1766  |  | Whig | Rockingham I
|  | William Pitt
1st Earl of Chatham | 30 July
1766  | 2 November
1768  |

* Prime Minister

| Whig | Chatham
(Whig–Tory)
|  | George Hervey
2nd Earl of Bristol | 2 November
1768  | 26 February
1770  |  | —  | Grafton
(Whig–Tory)
|  | George Montagu-Dunk
2nd Earl of Halifax | 26 February
1770  | 22 January
1771  |  | Tory | North
|  | Henry Howard
12th Earl of Suffolk | 22 January
1771  | 12 June
1771  |  | —
|  | Augustus FitzRoy
3rd Duke of Grafton | 12 June
1771  | 4 November
1775  |  | Whig
|  | William Legge
2nd Earl of Dartmouth | 4 November
1775  | 27 March
1782  |  | —
|  | Augustus FitzRoy
3rd Duke of Grafton | 27 March
1782  | 4 April
1783  |  | Whig | Rockingham II
Shelburne
(Whig–Tory)
|  | Frederick Howard
5th Earl of Carlisle | 4 April
1783  | 23 December
1783  |  | —  | Fox–North
(Whig–Tory)
|  | Charles Manners
4th Duke of Rutland | 23 December
1783  | 27 November
1784  |  | —  | Pitt I
|  | Granville Leveson-Gower
1st Marquess of Stafford[nb 18] | 27 November
1784  | 1794  |  | Tory
|  | George Spencer
2nd Earl Spencer | 1794  | 16 July
1794  |  | Whig
|  | John Pitt
2nd Earl of Chatham | 16 July
1794  | 14 February
1798  |  | —
|  | John Fane
10th Earl of Westmorland | 14 February
1798  | 5 February
1806  |  | Tory
Addington
Pitt II
|  | Henry Addington
1st Viscount Sidmouth | 5 February
1806  | 15 October
1806  |  | Tory | All the Talents
(Whig–Tory)
|  | Henry Vassall-Fox
3rd Baron Holland | 15 October
1806  | 25 March
1807  |  | Whig
|  | John Fane
10th Earl of Westmorland | 25 March
1807  | 30 April
1827  |  | Tory | Portland II
Perceval
Liverpool
George IV

r. 1820–1830
|  | William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck
4th Duke of Portland | 30 April
1827  | 16 July
1827  |  | Tory | Canning
(Canningite–Whig)
|  | George Howard
6th Earl of Carlisle | 16 July
1827  | 26 January
1828  |  | Whig
Goderich
(Canningite–Whig)
|  | Edward Law
2nd Baron Ellenborough | 26 January
1828  | 10 June
1829  |

* President of the Board of Control[nb 19]

| Tory | Wellington–Peel
|  | James St Clair-Erskine
2nd Earl of Rosslyn | 10 June
1829  | 22 November
1830  |  | Tory
William IV

r. 1830–1837
|  | John Lambton
1st Baron Durham | 22 November
1830  | 3 April
1833  |  | Whig | Grey
|  | Frederick John Robinson
1st Earl of Ripon | 3 April
1833  | 5 June
1834  |  | Whig
|  | George Howard
6th Earl of Carlisle | 5 June
1834  | 30 July
1834  |  | Whigs
|  | Constantine Phipps
2nd Earl of Mulgrave | 30 July
1834  | 14 November
1834  |  | Whig | Melbourne I
|  | James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie
1st Baron Wharncliffe | 15 December
1834  | 8 April
1835  |  | Conservative | Peel I
|  | John Ponsonby
1st Baron Duncannon
styled Viscount Duncannon | 23 April
1835  | 15 January
1840  |

* First Commissioner of Woods and Forests

| Whig | Melbourne II
Victoria

r. 1837–1901
|  | George Villiers
4th Earl of Clarendon | 15 January
1840  | 30 August
1841  |

* Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[nb 20]

| Whig
|  | Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville
2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 3 September
1841  | 2 February
1842  |  | Conservative | Peel II
|  | Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott
5th Duke of Buccleuch | 2 February
1842  | 21 January
1846  |  | Conservative
|  | Thomas Hamilton
9th Earl of Haddington | 21 January
1846  | 27 June
1846  |  | Conservative
|  | Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound
2nd Earl of Minto | 6 July
1846  | 21 February
1852  |  | Whig | Russell I
|  | James Gascoyne-Cecil
2nd Marquess of Salisbury | 27 February
1852  | 17 December
1852  |  | Conservative | Who? Who?
|  | George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll | 4 January
1853  | 7 December
1855  |  | Peelite | Aberdeen
(Peelite–Whig)
Palmerston I
|  | Dudley Ryder
2nd Earl of Harrowby | 7 December
1855  | 3 February
1858  |  | Whig
|  | Ulick de Burgh
1st Marquess of Clanricarde | 3 February
1858  | 21 February
1858  |  | Whig
|  | Charles Yorke
4th Earl of Hardwicke | 26 February
1858  | 11 June
1859  |  | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli II
|  | George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll | 18 June
1859  | 26 June
1866  |  | Liberal | Palmerston II
Russell II
|  | James Harris
3rd Earl of Malmesbury | 6 July
1866  | 1 December
1868  |  | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III
|  | John Wodehouse
1st Earl of Kimberley | 9 December
1868  | 6 July
1870  |  | Liberal | Gladstone I
|  | Charles Wood
1st Viscount Halifax | 6 July
1870  | 17 February
1874  |  | Liberal
|  | James Harris
3rd Earl of Malmesbury | 21 February
1874  | 12 August
1876  |  | Conservative | Disraeli II
|  | Benjamin Disraeli
1st Earl of Beaconsfield | 12 August
1876  | 4 February
1878  |

* Prime Minister
* First Lord of the Treasury

| Conservative
|  | Algernon Percy
6th Duke of Northumberland | 4 February
1878  | 21 April
1880  |  | Conservative
|  | George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll | 28 April
1880  | 2 May
1881  |  | Liberal | Gladstone II
|  | Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue
1st Baron Carlingford | 2 May
1881  | 5 March
1885  |  | Liberal
|  | Archibald Primrose
5th Earl of Rosebery | 5 March
1885  | 9 June
1885  |

* First Commissioner of Works

| Liberal
|  | Dudley Ryder
3rd Earl of Harrowby | 24 June
1885  | 28 January
1886  |  | Conservative | Salisbury I
|  | William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Midlothian | 17 February
1886  | 20 July
1886  |

* Prime Minister
* First Lord of the Treasury
* Leader of the House of Commons

| Liberal | Gladstone III
|  | George Cadogan
5th Earl Cadogan | 3 August
1886  | 11 August
1892  |  | Conservative | Salisbury II
|  | William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Midlothian | 20 August
1892  | 10 March
1894  |

* Prime Minister
* First Lord of the Treasury
* Leader of the House of Commons

| Liberal | Gladstone IV
|  | Edward Marjoribanks
2nd Baron Tweedmouth | 10 March
1894  | 21 June
1895  |

* Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[nb 21]

| Liberal | Rosebery
|  | Richard Assheton Cross
1st Viscount Cross | 29 June
1895  | 12 November
1900  |  | Conservative | Salisbury
(III & IV)
(Con.–Lib.U.)
|  | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
3rd Marquess of Salisbury | 12 November
1900  | July
1902  |

* Prime Minister
* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
Edward VII

r. 1901–1910
|  | Arthur Balfour
MP for Manchester East | 14 July
1902  | October
1903  |

* Prime Minister
* First Lord of the Treasury
* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative | Balfour
(Con.–Lib.U.)
|  | James Gascoyne-Cecil
4th Marquess of Salisbury | 17 October
1903  | December
1905  |

* President of the Board of Trade[nb 22]

| Conservative
|  | George Robinson
1st Marquess of Ripon | 10 December
1905  | October
1908  |

* Leader of the House of Lords[nb 23]

| Liberal | Campbell-Bannerman
Asquith
(I-III)
|  | Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Marquess of Crewe[nb 24] | 9 October
1908  | October
1911  |

* Leader of the House of Lords
* Secretary of State for the Colonies[nb 25]
* Secretary of State for India[nb 26]

| Liberal
George V

r. 1910–1936
|  | Charles Wynn-Carington
1st Earl Carrington | 23 October
1911  | February
1912  |  | Liberal
|  | Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Marquess of Crewe | 13 February
1912  | May
1915  |

* Secretary of State for India
* Leader of the House of Lords

| Liberal
|  | George Curzon
1st Earl Curzon of Kedleston | 25 May
1915  | December
1916  |

* President of the Air Board[nb 27]

| Conservative | Asquith Coalition
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
|  | David Lindsay
27th Earl of Crawford | 15 December
1916  | January
1919  |  | Conservative | Lloyd George
(I & II)
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
|  | Bonar Law
MP for Glasgow Central | 10 January
1919  | March
1921  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative
|  | Austen Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham West | 23 March
1921  | October
1922  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative
Vacant | October
1922  | May
1923  |  |  | Law
|  | Robert Cecil
1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood[nb 28] | 28 May
1923  | January
1924  |  | Conservative | Baldwin I
|  | J. R. Clynes
MP for Manchester Platting | 22 January
1924  | November
1924  |

* Deputy Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour | MacDonald I
|  | James Gascoyne-Cecil
4th Marquess of Salisbury | 6 November
1924  | June
1929  |

* Leader of the House of Lords[nb 29]

| Conservative | Baldwin II
|  | Jimmy Thomas
MP for Derby | 7 June
1929  | June
1930  |  | Labour | MacDonald II
|  | Vernon Hartshorn
MP for Ogmore | 5 June
1930  | March
1931  |  | Labour
|  | Tom Johnston
MP for West Stirlingshire | 24 March
1931  | August
1931  |  | Labour
|  | William Peel
1st Earl Peel | August
1931  | November
1931  |  | Conservative | National I
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
|  | Philip Snowden
1st Viscount Snowden | 5 November
1931  | September
1932  |  | National Labour | National II
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
|  | Stanley Baldwin
MP for Bewdley | 29 September
1932  | December
1933  |

* Lord President of the Council

| Conservative
|  | Anthony Eden
MP for Warwick and Leamington | 31 December
1933  | June
1935  |  | Conservative
|  | Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart
7th Marquess of Londonderry | 7 June
1935  | November
1935  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative | National III
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
|  | Edward Wood
3rd Viscount Halifax | 22 November
1935  | May
1937  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
Edward VIII

r. 1936
George VI

r. 1936–1952
|  | Herbrand Sackville
9th Earl De La Warr | 28 May
1937  | October
1938  |  | National Labour | National IV
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
|  | John Anderson
1st Viscount Waverley
MP for Combined Scottish Universities | 31 October
1938  | September
1939  |  | Independent
(National)
|  | Samuel Hoare
1st Viscount Templewood
MP for Chelsea | 3 September
1939  | April
1940  |  | Conservative | Chamberlain War
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
|  | Kingsley Wood
MP for Woolwich West | 3 April
1940  | May
1940  |  | Conservative
|  | Clement Attlee
MP for Limehouse | 11 May
1940  | February
1942  |

* Deputy Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour | Churchill War
(All parties)
|  | Stafford Cripps
MP for Bristol East | 19 February
1942  | November
1942  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour
|  | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne | 22 November
1942  | September
1943  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
|  | Max Aitken
1st Baron Beaverbrook | 24 September
1943  | July
1945  |  | Conservative
Churchill Caretaker
(Con.–N.Lib.)
|  | Arthur Greenwood
MP for Wakefield | 27 July
1945  | 17 April
1947  |

* Paymaster General[nb 30]

| Labour | Attlee
(I & II)
|  | Philip Inman
1st Baron Inman | 17 April
1947  | 7 October
1947  |  | Labour
|  | Christopher Addison
1st Viscount Addison | 7 October
1947  | 9 March
1951  |

* Leader of the House of Lords
* Paymaster General[nb 31]

| Labour
|  | Ernest Bevin
MP for Woolwich East | 9 March
1951  | 14 April
1951  |  | Labour
|  | Richard Stokes
MP for Ipswich | 26 April
1951  | October
1951  |

* Minister of Materials[nb 32]

| Labour
|  | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
5th Marquess of Salisbury | 28 October
1951  | 7 May
1952  |

* Leader of the House of Lords
* Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations[nb 33]

| Conservative | Churchill III
Elizabeth II

r. 1952–2022
|  | Harry Crookshank
MP for Gainsborough | 7 May
1952  | 20 December
1955  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative
Eden
|  | R. A. Butler
MP for Saffron Walden | 20 December
1955  | October
1959  |

* Leader of the House of Commons
* Secretary of State for the Home Department[nb 34]

| Conservative
Macmillan
(I & II)
|  | Quintin Hogg
2nd Viscount Hailsham | 14 October
1959  | July
1960  |

* Minister of Science

| Conservative
|  | Edward Heath
MP for Bexley | 27 July
1960  | October
1963  |

* Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

| Conservative
|  | Selwyn Lloyd
MP for Wirral | 20 October
1963  | October
1964  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative | Douglas-Home
|  | Frank Pakenham
7th Earl of Longford | 18 October
1964  | December
1965  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour | Wilson
(I & II)
|  | Frank Soskice
MP for Newport | 23 December
1965  | April
1966  |  | Labour
|  | Frank Pakenham
7th Earl of Longford | 6 April
1966  | January
1968  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour
|  | Edward Shackleton
Baron Shackleton | 16 January
1968  | April
1968  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour
|  | Fred Peart
MP for Workington | 6 April
| October
1968  |  | Labour
|  | Edward Shackleton
Baron Shackleton | 18 October
1968  | June
1970  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour
|  | George Jellicoe
2nd Earl Jellicoe | 20 June
1970  | June
1973  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative | Heath
|  | David Hennessy
3rd Baron Windlesham | 5 June
1973  | March
1974  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
|  | Malcolm Shepherd
2nd Baron Shepherd | 7 March
1974  | September
1976  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour | Wilson
(III & IV)
Callaghan
|  | Fred Peart
Baron Peart | 10 September
1976  | May
1979  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour
|  | Ian Gilmour
Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar
MP for Chesham and Amersham | 5 May
1979  | September
1981  |

* Government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

| Conservative | Thatcher I
|  | Humphrey Atkins
MP for Spelthorne | 14 September
1981  | April
1982  |

* Government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

| Conservative
|  | Janet Young
Baroness Young | 6 April
1982  | June
1983  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
|  | John Biffen
MP for North Shropshire | 11 June
1983  | June
1987  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative | Thatcher II
|  | John Wakeham
MP for South Colchester and Maldon | 13 June
1987  | 10 January
1988  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative | Thatcher III
|  | John Ganzoni
2nd Baron Belstead | 10 January
1988  | 28 November
1990  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
|  | David Waddington
Baron Waddington | 28 November
1990  | 11 April
1992  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative | Major I
|  | John Wakeham
Baron Wakeham | 11 April
1992  | 20 July
1994  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative
|  | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne | 20 July
1994  | 2 May
1997  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative

Major II

|  | Ivor Richard
Baron Richard | 2 May
1997  | 27 July
1998  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour | Blair I
|  | Margaret Jay
Baroness Jay of Paddington | 27 July
1998  | 8 June
2001  |

* Leader of the House of Lords
* Minister for Women

| Labour
|  | Gareth Williams
Baron Williams of Mostyn | 8 June
2001  | 13 June
2003  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour | Blair II
|  | Peter Hain
MP for Neath | 13 June
2003  | 6 May
2005  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour
|  | Geoff Hoon
MP for Ashfield | 6 May
2005  | 5 May
2006 |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour | Blair III
|  | Jack Straw
MP for Blackburn | 5 May
2006 | 27 June
2007  |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Labour
|  | Harriet Harman
MP for Camberwell and Peckham | 28 June
2007  | 11 May
2010  |

* Leader of the House of Commons
* Minister for Women and Equality

| Labour | Brown
|  | George Young
MP for North West Hampshire | 12 May
2010  | 4 September
2012 |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative | Cameron–Clegg
(Con.–L.D.)
|  | Andrew Lansley
MP for South Cambridgeshire | 4 September
2012 | 14 July
2014 |

* Leader of the House of Commons

| Conservative
|  | Tina Stowell
Baroness Stowell of Beeston | 15 July
2014 | 14 July
2016  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative

Cameron II

|  | Natalie Evans
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | 14 July
2016  | 6 September
2022  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative | May I
May II
Johnson I
Johnson II
|  | Nicholas True
Baron True | 6 September
2022  | 5 July
2024  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Conservative | Truss
Charles III

(2022–present)
Sunak
|  | Angela Smith
Baroness Smith of Basildon | 5 July
2024  | Incumbent  |

* Leader of the House of Lords

| Labour | Starmer

Notes

1. ^ Archdeacon of Sarum until 1426; Bishop of Norwich from 1426
2. ^ Archdeacon of Oxford 1434–1442; Bishop of St David's from 1442
3. ^ Dean of Salisbury until 1446; Bishop of Chichester from 1446
4. ^ Dean of St Paul's until 1457
5. ^ Archdeacon of Taunton until 1465; Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1466
6. ^ Bishop of Rochester from 1468
7. ^ Bishop of Rochester until 1472; Bishop of Lincoln from 1472
8. ^ Bishop of Rochester 1476–1480; Bishop of Lincoln from 1480
9. ^ Bishop of Exeter until 1492; Bishop of Bath and Wells 1492–1494; Bishop of Durham 1494–1501; Bishop of Winchester from 1501
10. ^ Concurrently held the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1533, Secretary of State from 1534, and Lord Great Chamberlain in 1540
11. ^ Baron Russell from 1539, created Earl of Bedford in 1551
12. ^ Concurrently held the office of Secretary of State
13. ^ Appointed in the controversial Oxford Parliament, Bourchier is sometimes regarded as holding the office for life. However, during the Interregnum Bourchier was identified as a Delinquent by Parliamentarians and use of the Privy Seal ended. Until the Restoration of Charles II the Great Seal was the primary seal of government, for which the custody held in commission.
14. ^ Marquess of Normanby from 1694; created Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703
15. ^ Earl of Wharton from 1706; created Marquess of Wharton in 1715
16. ^ Baron Gower from 1709; created Earl Gower in 1746
17. ^ The Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811.
18. ^ Earl Gower from 1754; created Marquess of Stafford in 1786
19. ^ Served as President of the Board of Control from September 1828
20. ^ Served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster October 1840 – June 1841
21. ^ Served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from May 1894
22. ^ Served as President of the Board of Trade from March 1905
23. ^ Served as Leader of the House of Lords from April 1908
24. ^ Earl of Crewe from 1895; created Marquess of Crewe July 1911
25. ^ Served as Secretary of State for the Colonies until November 1910
26. ^ Served as Secretary of State for India November 1910 – March 1911; and from May 1911
27. ^ Served as President of the Air Board from May 1916
28. ^ MP for Hitchin until 1923; created Viscount Cecil of Chelwood December 1923
29. ^ Served as Leader of the House of Lords from April 1925
30. ^ Served as Paymaster General July 1946 – March 1947
31. ^ Served as Paymaster General July 1948 – April 1949
32. ^ Served as Minister of Materials from July 1951
33. ^ Served as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations from March 1952
34. ^ Served as Secretary of State for the Home Department from January 1957

## Other countries

[edit]

* Keeper of the seals of France
* Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan
* Keeper of the Rulers' Seal of Malaysia

## See also

[edit]

* Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
* Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
* Lord Privy Seal (term), as used in the television news business

## Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
2. ^ Beckett, Francis (1997). Clem Attlee: A Biography. London: Richard Cohen. p. 285\. ISBN 9781860661013.
3. ^ Beckett, Francis (2000). Clem Attlee: A Biography. London: Politico's Publishing. p. 285 at archive.org. ISBN 9781902301709.
4. ^ Sayers, Jane. "The English Royal Chancery" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2012.

## References

[edit]

* Sergeant, John (2002). Give me ten seconds. Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-48490-7.

* v
* t
* e

Great Officers of State of England and Scotland

Great Officers of State
of England|

| Lord High Steward|

* Vacant

|

Lord High Chancellor|

* Shabana Mahmood MP (as Secretary of State for Justice)

Lord High Treasurer|

* Vacant

Lord President of the Council|

* Lucy Powell MP (also Leader of the House of Commons)

Lord Privy Seal|

* Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon (also Leader of the House of Lords)

Lord Great Chamberlain|

* In gross: Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington

Lord High Constable|

* Vacant

Earl Marshal|

* Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk

Lord High Admiral|

* Charles III (in right of the Crown)1

Officers of State
of Scotland|

| Greater|

| Lord High Chancellor|

* Abolished in 1707 (see Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain)

|

Lord High Treasurer|

* Abolished in 1707 (see Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain)

Lord Privy Seal|

* Vacant since 1921

Lord Secretary|

* Abolished in 1709

Lesser|

| Lord Clerk Register|

* Lady Elish Angiolini

|

Lord Advocate|

* Dorothy Bain

Lord Treasurer-depute|

* Abolished in 1707

Lord Justice Clerk|

* Leeona Dorrian, Lady Dorrian

Officers of the Crown
of Scotland|

| Lord President of the Council|

* Privy Council abolished in 1708

|

Lord High Chamberlain|

* Resigned to the Crown in 1703

Lord High Steward|

* William, Duke of Rothesay (as Prince and Great Steward of Scotland)

Lord High Constable|

* Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll

Knight Marischal|

* Vacant since 1863

Earl Marischal|

* Forfeit in 1716

Lord High Admiral2|

* Abolished in 1707

Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland2|

* John Swinney MSP (as First Minister of Scotland)

1 Office is either vested in the Crown, or vacant. Status is currently debated.
2 There is debate around whether these offices constitute Officers of the Crown.

* v
* t
* e

Royal Household in England, Scotland and the United Kingdom

Great officers of the Household|

* Lord Chamberlain of the Household
* Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
* Lord Steward of the Household
* Master of the Horse
* His Majesty's Representative at Ascot
* Master of the Buckhounds
* Clerk Marshal
* Treasurer of the Household
* Comptroller of the Household

Other great officers of the Household
(currently among Great Officers of State)|

* Lord High Steward
* Lord Chancellor
* Purse Bearer
* Keeper of the Privy Seal
* Earl Marshal
* Knight Marshal

Private Secretary's Office|

* Private Secretary to the Sovereign
* Director for Security Liaison
* Royal Communications

Privy Purse and Treasurer's Office|

* Keeper of the Privy Purse
* Royal Almonry

Lord Chamberlain's Office|

* Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
* Crown Equerry
* Gentleman of the Horse
* Master of the Revels

Master of the Household's Department|

* Master of the Household
* Master of the Household of Scotland
* Butler of Scotland

Board of Green Cloth|

* Clerk of the Green Cloth
* Cofferer of the Household

Lords/ladies-in-waiting|

* Mistress of the Robes
* Master of the Robes
* Groom of the Robes
* Groom in Waiting
* Page of Honour
* Maid of Honour
* Mother of the Maids

Medical Household|

* Physician to the King
* Serjeant Surgeon
* Apothecary to the Household
* Apothecary to the Household at Sandringham
* Apothecary to the Household at Windsor
* Coroner of the Queen's Household
* Medical Officer to The King

Ecclesiastical Household|

* Clerk of the Closet
* Deputy Clerk of the Closet
* Dean of the Chapel Royal
* Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
* Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal
* Honorary Chaplain to the King

Royal Archives and Royal Collection|

* Keeper of the Royal Archives
* Royal Librarian
* Surveyor of the King's Pictures
* Surveyor of the King's Works of Art
* Master of the Jewel Office
* Treasurer of the Chamber
* Crown Jeweller
* Historiographer Royal
* England
* Scotland

Wardrobe|

* Keeper (or Treasurer) of the Wardrobe
* Comptroller of the Wardrobe
* Cofferer of the Wardrobe
* Keeper of the Great Wardrobe

Privy chamber and bedchamber|

* Groom of the Chamber
* Lord of the Bedchamber
* Gentleman of the Bedchamber
* Lady of the Bedchamber
* Woman of the Bedchamber
* Chamberer
* Groom of the Stool (1509–1901)
* Page of the Backstairs

Bodyguards and guardians|

* King's Guard
* Yeomen of the Guard
* Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
* Sovereign's Bodyguard
* Gold Stick-in-Waiting
* Silver Stick-in-Waiting
* Yeomen Warders
* High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Animal keepers|

* Master of the Staghounds (1738–1782)
* Master of the Hawks
* Master of the Harriers
* Keeper of the Queen's Swans
* Warden of the Swans
* Marker of the Swans

Arts and entertainment|

* Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
* Master of the Ceremonies
* Master of the King's Music
* Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
* Groom Porter
* Piper to the Sovereign
* Piper to the Queen Mother
* Serjeant Painter
* Principal Painter in Ordinary
* Painter and Limner
* Flower Painter in Ordinary
* Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland
* Grand Carver of England
* Master Carver
* Pantler of Scotland

Other positions|

* Defence Services Secretary
* Astronomer Royal
* Astronomer Royal for Scotland
* Geographer Royal
* Justiciar (1102–1261)
* Knight Marischal
* Personal aide-de-camp
* Armour-Bearer and Squire of His Majesty's Body
* King's Flag Sergeant
* Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
* Warden of the Mint (1216–1829)
* Gentleman Usher
* Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State
* His Majesty's Botanist
* King's Bargemaster
* Funeral directors

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*[r.]: reigned