View source for First Lord of the Admiralty

{{Short description|Political head of the Royal Navy (1628–1964)}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[First Sea Lord]], [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]], [[Admiral of the Fleet (United Kingdom)]], or [[Admiral (United Kingdom)]]|}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = First Lord
| body = the Admiralty
| native_name = <!--{{native name||}} -->
| insignia = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|HM Government]]
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = 
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = 
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| imagecaption = '''Longest serving<br />'''<br />xx–xx
| department = [[British Admiralty|Department of the Admiralty]]
| style = 
| type = 
| status = Abolished
| abbreviation = 
| member_of = [[Board of Admiralty]]<br />[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]
| residence = 
| seat = 
| nominator = Prime Minister
| appointer = Prime Minister
| appointer_qualified = <small>Subject to formal approval by the [[King-in-Council]]</small>
| termlength = Not fixed
| termlength_qualified = typically 3–7 years
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor = 
| formation = 1628
| first = [[Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland]]
| last = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe]]
| abolished = 1964
| superseded_by = [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = 
| salary = 
| website = <!-- {{url|example.com}}-->
| footnotes = 
}}

The '''First Lord of the Admiralty''',<ref>{{cite book|last1=Eberle|first1=Sir James|title=Wider horizons: naval policy & international affairs|date=2007|publisher=Roundtuit Publishing|isbn=9781904499176|page=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pEAZ_wRi1_U&pg=PA1|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> or formally the '''Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty''',<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pryde|first1=E. B.|title=Handbook of British Chronology|date=23 February 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521563505|page=135|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcgxEvGAK_kC&pg=PA135|language=en}}</ref> was the political head of the English and later British [[Royal Navy]]. He was the government's senior adviser on all naval affairs, responsible for the direction and control of [[British Admiralty|the Admiralty]], and also of general administration of the Naval Service of the [[Kingdom of England]], Great Britain<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance --> in the 18th century, and then the United Kingdom, including the Royal Navy, the [[Royal Marines]], and other services. It was one of the earliest known permanent government posts. Apart from being the political head of the Naval Service the post holder was simultaneously the pre-eminent member of the [[Board of Admiralty]]. The office of First Lord of the Admiralty existed from 1628 until it was abolished when the Admiralty, [[Air Ministry]], [[Ministry of Defence (1947–64)|Ministry of Defence]] and [[War Office]] were all merged to form the new [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in 1964. Its modern-day equivalent is the [[Secretary of State for Defence]].

== History ==
In 1628, during the reign of {{nowrap|Charles I}}, [[George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham]], Lord High Admiral of England, was assassinated and the office was placed in commission, under the control of a Board of Commissioners.

The first such First Lord of the Admiralty was [[Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland]], who was appointed in 1628.  The First Lord was not always a permanent member of the board until the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty Department]] was established as an official [[British government departments|government department]] in 1709<ref name=blake>{{cite book|last1=Blake|first1=Nicholas|last2=Lawrence|first2=Richard|title=The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy|date=2005|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=9780811732758|page=8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I59v6rkg8egC&pg=PA8|language=en}}</ref> with the First Lord as its head; it replaced the earlier '''Office of the Admiralty and Marine Affairs'''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Knighton|first1=C. S.|last2=Loades|first2=David|last3=Loades|first3=Professor of History David|title=Elizabethan Naval Administration|date=29 April 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317145035|page=8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K50WDAAAQBAJ|language=en}}</ref> During most of the 17th century and the early 18th century, it was not invariable for the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] to be in commission, so there are gaps in the list of First Lords, and a small number of First Lords were for a time Lord High Admiral.

After the Revolution, in 1690, a declaratory Act was passed, during the reign of William and Mary. Parliament passed the Admiralty Act, vesting in the Commissioners the powers formerly held by the Lord High Admiral of England.<ref name=hamilton>{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=Admiral Sir. Richard. Vesey, G.C.B.|title=Naval Administration: The Constitution, Character, and Functions of the Board of Admiralty, and of the Civil Departments it Directs|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924030895860|date=1896|publisher=George Bell and Sons, London}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> and at this point became a permanent [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] position.

The Admiralty Commission was dissolved in 1701, but was reconstituted in 1709 on the death of Prince George of Denmark,<ref name=blake/> who had been appointed Lord High Admiral.  The office has been held in commission from that time onwards, however, except for a short period (1827–28) when the Duke of Clarence was Lord High Admiral. The Board of the Admiralty comprised a number of "Lords Commissioners" headed by a First Lord.<ref name=hamilton/>

From the early 1800s the post was always held by a civilian<ref>{{cite book|last1=Constable|first1=Archibald|title=The Edinburgh Review, Or Critical Journal: ... To Be Continued Quarterly|date=1861|publisher=Austrian National Library, 4 November 2013|page=291|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vbRZAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA291|language=en}}</ref> (previously flag officers of the Royal Navy also held the post). In 1832 First Lord [[Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet|Sir James Graham]] instituted reforms and amalgamated the [[Board of Admiralty]] and the [[Navy Board]]. By the provisions of the Admiralty Act of 1832, two Lords in committee could legalise any action of the Board.<ref>{{cite web|last1=(eISB)|first1=electronic Irish Statute Book|title=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB), Admiralty Act, 1832|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1832/act/40/enacted/en/html|website=irishstatutebook.ie|publisher=Government of Ireland, 2017|access-date=9 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>

In 1868 [[William Ewart Gladstone|Prime Minister, William Gladstone]] appointed [[Hugh Childers]] First Lord, who would introduce a new system at the Admiralty. However these changes restricted communication between the board members who were affected by these new regulations, and the sittings of the Board were discontinued altogether. This situation described was further exacerbated by the disaster of {{HMS|Captain|1869|6}} in 1870, a poorly-designed new vessel for the navy.

The responsibility and powers of the First Lord of the Admiralty were laid down by an Order in Council dated 14 January 1869,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=C. I.|title=The making of the modern admiralty : British naval policy-making 1805–1927|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|isbn=9780521765183|page=153}}</ref> and a later Order (19 March 1872) made the First Lord responsible to the Sovereign and to Parliament for all the business of the Admiralty. However, by describing the [[Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty|Lords of the Admiralty]] as the "assistants" of the First Lord,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Marder|first1=Arthur|title=From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow: Volume II: To The Eve of Jutland 1914–1916|date=19 June 2014|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=9781848321632|page=268|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ABtBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA268|language=en}}</ref> and by specifically defining their duties, this had, in fact, partially disabled the collective power of the Board.

In 1931, for the first time since 1709, the First Lord was not a member of the cabinet.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cannon|first1=John|last2=Crowcroft|first2=Robert|title=The Oxford Companion to British History|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199677832|page=5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM9xCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5|language=en}}</ref>

In 1946, the three posts of [[Secretary of State for War]], First Lord of the Admiralty, and [[Secretary of State for Air]] became formally subordinated to that of [[Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)|Minister of Defence]], which had itself been created in 1940 for the co-ordination of defence and security issues.

In 1964, the office of First Lord of the Admiralty was abolished, the last holder being [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|the second Earl Jellicoe]], whose father, Admiral of the Fleet [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|the first Earl Jellicoe]], had served as [[First Sea Lord]] nearly 50 years earlier. The functions of the Lords Commissioners were then transferred to an [[Admiralty Board]], which forms part of the tri-service [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom]].

{{Principal political leaders of the British Armed Forces}}

== List of First Lords of the Admiralty ==

=== First Lords of the Admiralty of England (1628–1701) ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:Center"

! colspan=2 | First Lord of the Admiralty
! colspan=2 | Term of office

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:RichardWeston.jpg|75px]]
| [[Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland|Richard Weston<br/>1st '''Earl of Portland''']]<ref group=Note>Baron Weston from 1628, created Earl of Portland in 1633.</ref><ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Weston, Richard (1577-1635)|volume=60|page=364}}</ref>
| 1628
| 1635

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey, by circle of Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey|Robert Bertie<br/>1st '''Earl of Lindsey''']]<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Bertie, Robert}}</ref>
| 1635
| 1636

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:William Juxon from NPG.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Juxon]]'''<br/>{{Small|[[Bishop of London]]<br/>(1582–1663)}}<ref name=mason>Thomas Mason, ''Serving God and Mammon: William Juxon, 1582–1663'' ({{ISBN|0-87413-251-7}})</ref>
| 1636
| 1638

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Algernon Percy.jpeg|75px]]
| [[Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland|Algernon Percy<br/>10th '''Earl of Northumberland''']]<ref group=Note>Lord High Admiral 1638–1642.</ref><ref name=mason/>
| 1642
| 1643

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington from NPG.jpg|75px]]
| [[Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington|Francis Cottington<br/>1st '''Baron Cottington''']]<ref name=mason/>
| 1643
| 1646

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Peter Lely - Prince Rupert of the Rhine - Google Art Project.jpg|75px]]
| [[Prince Rupert of the Rhine|Prince '''Rupert of the Rhine''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rodger|first1=N. A. M.|author-link=N. A. M. Rodger|title=The Command of the Ocean|date=2004|publisher=Allen Lane|location=London|isbn=0-713-99411-8|page=629|language=en}}</ref>
| 1673
| 1679

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Peter Lely portrait of Henry Capel 1659.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Tewkesbury|Sir '''Henry Capell''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Tewkesbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Tewkesbury]]}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=N.Y.)|first1=Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York|last2=Baetjer|first2=Katharine|title=British Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1575–1875|date=2009|publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|isbn=9781588393487|page=19|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FZzL3ey6gDYC&pg=PA19|language=en}}</ref>
| 1679
| 1681

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and 7th Earl of Winchilsea by Jonathan Richardson.jpg|75px]]
| [[Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham|Daniel Finch<br/>2nd '''Earl of Nottingham''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Phillips|first1=G.|title=Rutland|date=29 November 2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781107696419|page=132|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swR9lsKWTSIC&pg=PA132|language=en}}</ref>
| 1681
| 1684

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Admiral Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington by John Closterman.jpg|75px]]
| [[Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington|Arthur Herbert<br/>1st '''Earl of Torrington''']]<ref group=Note>Lord High Admiral 1689.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Stewart|first1=William|title=Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present|date=28 September 2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786482887|page=163|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S1VimlFIjQoC&q=Arthur+Herbert%2C+1st+Earl+of+Torrington+first+lord+of+the+admiralty&pg=PA164|language=en}}</ref>
| 1689
| 1690

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke by John Greenhill.jpg|75px]]
| [[Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke|Thomas Herbert<br/>8th '''Earl of Pembroke''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cannon|first1=John|last2=Crowcroft|first2=Robert|title=The Oxford Companion to British History|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199677832|page=714|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM9xCgAAQBAJ&q=Thomas+Herbert%2C+8th+Earl+of+Pembroke+first+lord+of+the+admiralty&pg=PA714|language=en}}</ref>
| 1690
| 1692

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| [[Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis|Charles Cornwallis<br/>3rd '''Baron Cornwallis''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Murray|first1=J.|title=Correspondence of Charles, First Marquis Cornwallis|date=1859|publisher=J. Murray|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aSUPAAAAYAAJ&q=Charles+Cornwallis%2C+3rd+Baron+Cornwallis+first+lord+of+the+admiralty&pg=PA2|language=en}}</ref>
| 1692
| 1693

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| [[Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland|Anthony Cary<br/>5th '''Viscount Falkland''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fieldgate|first1=Barrie|title=The Captain's Steward: Falklands, 1982|date=2007|publisher=Melrose Press|isbn=9781905226467|page=305|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YaHXQHxtuoC&pg=PA305|language=en}}</ref>
| 1693
| 1694

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford|Edward Russell<br/>1st '''Earl of Orford''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aldridge|first1=David Denis|title=Admiral Sir John Norris and the British Naval Expeditions to the Baltic Sea 1715–1727|date=2009|publisher=Nordic Academic Press|isbn=9789185509317|page=286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ewhrv-rRapoC&pg=PA286|language=en}}</ref>
| 1694
| 1699

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Portrait of John Egerton 3rd Earl of Bridgewater.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater|John Egerton<br/>3rd '''Earl of Bridgewater''']]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macaulay|first1=Thomas Babington | author-link = Thomas Babington Macaulay |title=The History of England: From the Accession of James the Second, Volume 6|date=1915|publisher=Macmillan|page=3018}}</ref>
| 1699
| 1701

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke by John Greenhill.jpg|75px]]
| [[Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke|Thomas Herbert<br/>8th '''Earl of Pembroke''']]<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol4/pp18-31 Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660–1870]</ref>
| 1701
| 1702

|}

=== Senior Members of the Lord High Admiral's Council (1702–1709) ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:Center"

! colspan=2 | Senior Member
! colspan=2 | Term of office

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:George Rooke.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Rooke|'''Sir George Rooke''']]<ref name="The Command of the Ocean">{{cite book|last1=Rodger|first1=N. A. M.|author-link=N. A. M. Rodger|title=The Command of the Ocean|date=2004|publisher=Allen Lane|location=London|isbn=0-713-99411-8|page=630|language=en}}</ref>
| 1702
| 1705

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:British (English) School - Sir David Mitchell (c.1650–1710) - BHC4145 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg|75px]]
| [[David Mitchell (Royal Navy officer)|'''Sir David Mitchell''']]<ref name="The Command of the Ocean"/>
| 1705
| 1708

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| [[David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss|David Wemyss<br/>4th '''Earl of Wemyss''']]<ref name="The Command of the Ocean"/>
| 1708
| 1709

|}

=== First Lords of the Admiralty of Great Britain (1709–1801) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:Center"

! colspan=2 | First Lord of the Admiralty
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Ministry
! Monarch

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg|75px]]
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford|Edward Russell<br/>1st '''Earl of Orford''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Childs|first1=John|title=The Nine Years' War and the British Army, 1688–1697: The Operations in the Low Countries|date=1991|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=9780719034619|page=353|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_3HAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA353|language=en}}</ref>
| 1709
| 1710
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Godolphin–Marlborough ministry|Godolphin–Marlborough]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]{{Ndash}}[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}
| rowspan=3 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|'''Anne''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1702-1707).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:John Leake by Godfrey Kneller.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Leake|{{Small|Admiral of the Fleet}}<br/>'''John Leake''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochester]]}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Winfield|first1=Rif|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|date=10 March 2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=9781783469246|page=23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95WCAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT22|language=en}}</ref>
| 1710
| 1712
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Oxford–Bolingbroke ministry|Oxford–Bolingbroke]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672-1739) Diplomat.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672–1739)|Thomas Wentworth<br/>1st '''Earl of Strafford''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Holmes|first1=Geoffrey|title=British Politics in the Age of Anne|date=1987|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=9780907628736|page=541|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XavUAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA541|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1712
| rowspan=2 | 1714

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=5 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George I of Great Britain|'''George I''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford|Edward Russell<br/>1st '''Earl of Orford''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Aldridge|first1=David Denis|title=Admiral Sir John Norris and the British Naval Expeditions to the Baltic Sea 1715–1727|date=2009|publisher=Nordic Academic Press|isbn=9789185509317|page=286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ewhrv-rRapoC&pg=PA286|language=en}}</ref>
| 1714
| 1716
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Townshend ministry|Townshend]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=4 | [[File:3rdEarlOfBerkeley2.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=4 | [[James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley|James Berkeley<br/>3rd '''Earl of Berkeley''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Stewart|first1=William|title=Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present|date=28 September 2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786438099|page=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFeQBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=4 | 1717
| rowspan=4 | 1727
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Stanhope–Sunderland ministry|Stanhope–Sunderland I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Second Stanhope–Sunderland ministry|Stanhope–Sunderland II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Walpole–Townshend ministry|Walpole–Townshend]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=13 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George II of Great Britain|'''George II''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by Jeremiah Davison.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|George Byng<br/>1st '''Viscount Torrington''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Howard|first1=Joseph J.|last2=Crisp|first2=Frederick A.|title=Visitation of England and Wales Notes: Volume 6 1906|date=1 September 1997|publisher=Heritage Books|isbn=9780788407031|page=172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2JY5M_pcdvQC&q=The+Viscount+Torrington+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA172|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1727
| rowspan=2 | 1733

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Walpole ministry|Walpole]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Portrait of Admiral Sir Charles Wager (by Thomas Gibson).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Charles Wager]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster]]}}<ref group=Note>MP for [[Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth]] until 1734; MP for [[Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster]] from 1734.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cunningham|first=George Godfrey|author-link=George Godfrey Cunningham|title=A History of England in the Lives of Englishmen|date=1853|publisher=A. Fullarton|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistoryengland08unkngoog/page/n192 169]|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistoryengland08unkngoog|quote=Sir Charles Wager First Lord of the Admiralty.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1733
| 1741

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Daniel Finch (1689-1769), 8th Earl of Winchilsea, 3rd Earl of Nottingham, by Thomas Worlidge.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea|Daniel Finch<br/>8th '''Earl of Winchilsea''']]<ref name=sainty>{{Cite web|last1=Sainty|first1=J. C.|title='Alphabetical list of officials: K-Z', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660–1870|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol4/pp135-159|website=british-history.ac.uk|publisher=Originally published by University of London, London, 1975, pp. 135–159.|access-date=9 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1741
| rowspan=2 | 1744

|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Carteret ministry|Carteret]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:4thDukeOfBedford.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford|John Russell<br/>4th '''Duke of Bedford''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Newman|first1=Gerald|last2=Brown|first2=Leslie Ellen|title=Britain in the Hanoverian Age, 1714–1837: An Encyclopedia|date=1997|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9780815303961|page=619|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhaBz_5OZiUC&q=John+Russell%2C+4th+Duke+of+Bedford+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA619|language=en}}</ref>
| 1744
| 1748
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Broad Bottom ministry|Broad Bottom<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|John Montagu<br/>4th '''Earl of Sandwich''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Woodward|first1=Bernard Bolingbroke|last2=Cates|first2=William Leist Readwin|title=Encyclopedia of Chronology: Historical and Biographical|date=1872|publisher=Longmans, Green and Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofch00wood/page/1246 1246]|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofch00wood|quote=John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich First Lord of the Admiralty 1748.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1748
| 1751

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:1stLordAnson.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[George Anson, 1st Baron Anson|George Anson<br/>1st '''Baron Anson''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Stewart|first1=William|title=Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present|date=28 September 2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786482887|page=9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S1VimlFIjQoC&q=George+Anson%2C+1st+Baron+Anson+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA9|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1751
| rowspan=2 | 1756

|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Newcastle ministry|Newcastle I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple by William Hoare.jpg|75px]]
| [[Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple|Richard Grenville-Temple<br/>2nd '''Earl Temple''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Winfield|first1=Rif|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|date=12 December 2007|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=9781783469253|page=viii Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5WCAwAAQBAJ&q=Richard+Grenville-Temple%2C+2nd+Earl+Temple+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PR8|language=en}}</ref>
| 1756
| 1757
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Pitt–Devonshire ministry|Pitt–Devonshire]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Daniel Finch (1689-1769), 8th Earl of Winchilsea, 3rd Earl of Nottingham, by Thomas Worlidge.jpg|75px]]
| [[Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea|Daniel Finch<br/>8th '''Earl of Winchilsea''']]<ref name=sainty/>
| 1757
| 1757
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[1757 caretaker ministry|1757 Caretaker]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:1stLordAnson.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[George Anson, 1st Baron Anson|George Anson<br/>1st '''Baron Anson''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Watson|first1=John Steven|title=The Reign of George III, 1760–1815|date=1960|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=9780198217138|page=613|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aAiPsSaP7jQC&q=George+Anson%2C+1st+Baron+Anson+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty+1757&pg=PA613|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1757
| rowspan=2 | 1762
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Pitt–Newcastle ministry|Pitt–Newcastle]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=19 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George III of Great Britain|'''George III''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:2ndEarlofHalifaxByJoshuaReynoldsNSArtGallery.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax|George Montague-Dunk<br/>2nd '''Earl of Halifax''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kane|first1=Joseph Nathan|last2=Aiken|first2=Charles Curry|title=The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950–2000|date=2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810850361|page=[https://archive.org/details/americancounties0000kane/page/123 123]|url=https://archive.org/details/americancounties0000kane|url-access=registration|quote=George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax First Lord of the Admiralty 1757.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1762
| 1762
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Bute ministry|Bute]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]{{Ndash}}[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:George Grenville (1712–1770) by William Hoare (1707-1792).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[George Grenville]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Buckingham]]}}<ref name="Oxford University">{{Cite book|last1=Chatham.)|first1=William Pitt (1st earl of|title=Correspondence, ed. by [W.S. Taylor and J.H. Pringle] the executors of his son John, earl of Chatham|date=1838|publisher=Oxford University|page=xxi Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3V8BAAAAQAAJ&q=Hon.+George+Grenville+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty+1757&pg=PR22|language=en}}</ref>
| 1762
| 1763

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|John Montagu<br/>4th '''Earl of Sandwich''']]<ref name="Oxford University"/>
| 1763
| 1763
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Grenville ministry|Grenville]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 | [[File:John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont by Thomas Hudson.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont|John Perceval<br/>2nd '''Earl of Egmont''']]<ref name="Oxford University"/>
| rowspan=3 | 1763
| rowspan=3 | 1766

|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Rockingham ministry|Rockingham I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Chatham ministry|Chatham]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]{{Ndash}}[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Sir Charles Saunders2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Saunders (admiral)|'''Charles Saunders''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hedon (UK Parliament constituency)|Hedon]]}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Beatson|first1=Robert|title=A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland: Or, A Complete Register of the Hereditary Honours, Public Offices, and Persons in Office, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time|date=1788|publisher=G. G. J. & J. Robinson|page=[https://archive.org/details/apoliticalindex04beatgoog/page/n337 320]|url=https://archive.org/details/apoliticalindex04beatgoog|quote=Sir Charles Saunders First Lord of the Admiralty 1757.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1766
| 1766

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Edward Hawke 1.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke|'''Edward Hawke''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth]]}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Watson|first1=John Steven|title=The Reign of George III, 1760–1815|date=1960|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=9780198217138|page=623|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aAiPsSaP7jQC&q=Edward+Hawke%2C+1st+Baron+Hawke+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty+1757&pg=PA623|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=3 | 1766
| rowspan=3 | 1771

|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Grafton ministry|Grafton]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[North ministry|North]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|John Montagu<br/>4th '''Earl of Sandwich''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Laurens|first1=Henry|title=The papers of Henry Laurens|date=1980|publisher=Univ of South Carolina Press|isbn=9780872493858|page=56|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KgJ-tRd11MUC&q=John+Montagu%2C+4th+Earl+of+Sandwich+Hawke+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA56|language=en}}</ref>
| 1771
| 1782

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Augustus Keppel<br/>1st '''Viscount Keppel''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Bandhauer|first1=Andrea|last2=Veber|first2=Maria|title=Migration and Cultural Contact: Germany and Australia|date=2009|publisher=Sydney University Press|isbn=9781920898632|page=214|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QriVKZUxa8IC&q=Augustus+Keppel%2C+1st+Viscount+Keppel+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA214|language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 1782
| rowspan=2 | 1783
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Second Rockingham ministry|Rockingham II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Shelburne ministry|Shelburne]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]{{Ndash}}[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Admiral of the Fleet Howe 1726-99 1st Earl Howe by John Singleton Copley.jpg|75px]]
| [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe<br/>5th '''Viscount Howe''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Haydn|first1=Joseph|title=The Book of Dignities: Containing Lists of the Official Personages of the British Empire ... from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time ... Together with the Sovereigns and Rulers of Europe, from the Foundation of Their Respective States; the Peerage of England and Great Britain ...|date=1851|publisher=Longmans, Brown, Green and Longmans|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookdignitiesco01haydgoog/page/n307 286]|url=https://archive.org/details/bookdignitiesco01haydgoog|quote=Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe First Lord of the Admiralty.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1783
| 1783

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg|75px]]
| [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Augustus Keppel<br/>1st '''Viscount Keppel''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Bolton|first1=Carol|title=Letters from England: By Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella|date=3 June 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317242918|page=508|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l8ZJDAAAQBAJ&q=Augustus+Keppel%2C+1st+Viscount+Keppel+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty+1783&pg=PA508|language=en}}</ref>
| 1783
| 1783
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Fox–North coalition|Fox–North]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Admiral of the Fleet Howe 1726-99 1st Earl Howe by John Singleton Copley.jpg|75px]]
| [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe<br/>5th '''Viscount Howe''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Haydn|first1=Joseph Timothy|last2=Beatson|first2=Robert|title=Beatson's Political index modernised. The book of dignities; containing rolls of the official personages of the British empire, together with the sovereigns of Europe, the peerage of England and of Great Britain; and numerous other lists|date=1851|publisher=Oxford University|page=286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GyQIAAAAQAAJ&q=Richard+Howe%2C+1st+Earl+Howe+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty&pg=PA286|language=en}}</ref>
| 1783
| 1788
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[First Pitt ministry|Pitt I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Chatham2.JPG|75px]]
| [[John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham|John Pitt<br/>2nd '''Earl of Chatham''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Nichols|first1=John|title=The Gentleman's Magazine|date=1835|publisher=E. Cave|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_TqLPAAAAMAAJ/page/n561 546]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_TqLPAAAAMAAJ|quote=John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham First Lord of the Admiralty 1783.|language=en}}</ref>
| 1788
| 1794

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer|George Spencer<br/>2nd '''Earl Spencer''']]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hawkins|first1=Anne|title=Letters of Seamen in the Wars with France, 1793–1815|date=17 June 2016|publisher=Boydell & Brewer|isbn=9781843838968|page=482|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cycbDQAAQBAJ&q=George+Spencer%2C+2nd+Earl+Spencer+First+Lord+of+the+Admiralty+1783&pg=PA482|language=en}}</ref>
| 1794
| 1801

|}

=== First Lords of the Admiralty of the United Kingdom (1801–1964) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan=3 | First Lord of the Admiralty
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Ministry
! Monarch<br/>{{Small|(Reign)}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent by Francis Cotes.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|John Jervis<br/>1st '''Earl of St Vincent''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1801
| rowspan=2 | 1804
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[First Pitt ministry|Pitt I]]
| rowspan=10 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George III of Great Britain|'''George III''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Addington ministry|Addington]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-Color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville by Sir Thomas Lawrence.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville|Henry Dundas<br/>1st '''Viscount Melville''']]
| 1804
| 1805
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Second Pitt ministry|Pitt II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-Color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Admiral Charles Middleton, later Lord Barham (1726-1813), by Isaac Pocock.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham|Charles Middleton<br/>1st '''Baron Barham''']]
| 1805
| 1806
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey by Sir Thomas Lawrence copy.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey|Charles Grey<br/>'''Viscount Howick''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Northumberland (UK Parliament constituency)|Northumberland]]}}
| 1806
| 1806
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Ministry of All the Talents|All the Talents]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]{{Ndash}}[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Thomas Grenville (1755-1846).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Thomas Grenville]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Buckingham]]}}
| 1806
| 1807
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-Color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave by Sir William Beechey.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave|Henry Phipps<br/>3rd '''Baron Mulgrave''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1807
| rowspan=2 | 1810
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Second Portland ministry|Portland II]]
|-
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Perceval ministry|Perceval]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-Color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:George Romney (1734-1802) - The Right Honourable Charles Philip Yorke (1764–1834) - 207768 - National Trust.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Charles Philip Yorke]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[St Germans (UK Parliament constituency)|St Germans]]}}
| 1810
| 1812
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-Color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville|Robert Dundas<br/>2nd '''Viscount Melville''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1812
| rowspan=2 | 1827
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Liverpool ministry|Liverpool]]
|-
| rowspan=4 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George IV of the United Kingdom|'''George IV''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg|60px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:WilliamIVbyLonsdale.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[William IV of the United Kingdom|Prince William Henry<br/>'''Duke of Clarence''']]<br/>{{Small|[[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]]}}<ref group=Note>As Lord High Admiral .</ref>
| rowspan=2 | ''1827''
| rowspan=2 | ''1828''
| rowspan=2 | —
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Canningite government, 1827–1828|Canning]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Canningite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}
|-
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Canningite government, 1827–1828|Goderich]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville|Robert Dundas<br/>2nd '''Viscount Melville''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1828
| rowspan=2 | 1830
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Wellington{{Ndash}}Peel ministry|Wellington{{Ndash}}Peel]]
|-
| rowspan=8 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[William IV of the United Kingdom|'''William IV''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Jamesgrantham.png|75px]]
| [[Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet|'''James Graham''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[East Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)|East Cumberland]]}}<ref group=Note>MP for [[Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)|Cumberland]] until 1832; MP for [[East Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)|East Cumberland]] from 1832</ref>
| 1830
| 1834
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whig government, 1830–1834|Grey]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland.png|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland|George Eden<br/>2nd '''Baron Auckland''']]
| rowspan=3 | 1834
| rowspan=3 | 1834
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whig government, 1830–1834|Melbourne I]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Wellington caretaker ministry|Wellington Caretaker]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:ThomasEarlGrey.jpg|75px]]
| [[Thomas Robinson, 2nd Earl de Grey|Thomas Robinson<br/>2nd '''Earl de Grey''']]
| 1834
| 1835
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Peel ministry|Peel I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland.png|75px]]
| [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland|George Eden<br/>2nd '''Baron Auckland''']]
| 1835
| 1835
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Second Melbourne ministry|Melbourne II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:2ndEarlOfMinto.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto|Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound<br/>2nd '''Earl of Minto''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1835
| rowspan=2 | 1841
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
| rowspan=26 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[Queen Victoria|'''Victoria''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Thomas Hamilton.jpg|75px]]
| [[Thomas Hamilton, 9th Earl of Haddington|Thomas Hamilton<br/>9th '''Earl of Haddington''']]
| 1841
| 1846
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Peel ministry|Peel II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:1stEarlOfEllenborough.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough|Edward Law<br/>1st '''Earl of Ellenborough''']]
| 1846
| 1846
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland.png|75px]]
| [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland|George Eden<br/>1st '''Earl of Auckland''']]
| 1846
| 1849
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Russell ministry|Russell I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook by Sir George Hayter.jpg|75px]]
| [[Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook|'''Francis Baring''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth]]}}
| 1849
| 1852
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Algernon Percy (1792–1865), 4th Duke of Northumberland by Francis Grant.jpg|75px]]
| [[Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland|Algernon Percy<br/>4th '''Duke of Northumberland''']]
| 1852
| 1852
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Who? Who? ministry|Who? Who?]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Peelite}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Jamesgrantham.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet|'''James Graham''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Carlisle (UK Parliament constituency)|Carlisle]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 1852
| rowspan=2 | 1855
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Peelite}} | [[Peelite]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Aberdeen ministry|Aberdeen]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Peelite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}
|-
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Palmerston ministry|Palmerston I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:1stViscountHalifax.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax|'''Charles Wood'''<br/>Bt GCB]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Halifax (UK Parliament constituency)|Halifax]]}}
| 1855
| 1858
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:John Pakington 1st Baron Hampton (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[John Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton|'''John Pakington''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Droitwich]]}}
| 1858
| 1859
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Derby{{Ndash}}Disraeli ministry|Derby{{Ndash}}Disraeli II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:12th Duke of Somerset.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset|{{Small|His Grace}}<br/>Edward Seymour<br/>12th '''Duke of Somerset''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1859
| rowspan=2 | 1866
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1859–1866|Palmerston II]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1859–1866|Russell II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:John Pakington 1st Baron Hampton (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[John Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton|'''John Pakington''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Droitwich]]}}
| 1866
| 1867
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Third Derby{{Ndash}}Disraeli ministry|Derby{{Ndash}}Disraeli III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Henry Lowry-Corry.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Lowry-Corry (1803–1873)|'''Henry Lowry-Corry''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Tyrone]]}}
| 1867
| 1868
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Hugh Childers, Lock & Whitfield woodburytype, 1876-83 crop.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Hugh Childers]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)|Pontefract]]}}
| 1868
| 1871
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[First Gladstone ministry|Gladstone I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Goschen by Bassano.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen|'''George Goschen''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[City of London (UK Parliament constituency)|City of London]]}}
| 1871
| 1874
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Ward Hunt (30 July 1825 – 29 July 1877) .jpg|75px]]
| '''[[George Ward Hunt]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Northamptonshire North (UK Parliament constituency)|Northamptonshire North]]}}
| 1874
| 1877
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Disraeli ministry|Disraeli II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:William Henry Smith (1825–1891).jpg|75px]]
| [[William Henry Smith (1825–1891)|'''William Henry Smith''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster]]}}
| 1877
| 1880
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Thomas Baring Earl of Northbrook.jpg|75px]]
| [[Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook|Thomas Baring<br/>1st '''Earl of Northbrook''']]
| 1880
| 1885
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Second Gladstone ministry|Gladstone II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord George Hamilton.JPG|75px]]
| [[Lord George Hamilton|Lord '''George Hamilton''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ealing (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing]]}}
| 1885
| 1886
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Salisbury ministry|Salisbury I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|George Robinson<br/>1st '''Marquess of Ripon''']]
| 1886
| 1886
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Third Gladstone ministry|Gladstone III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord George Hamilton.JPG|75px]]
| [[Lord George Hamilton|Lord '''George Hamilton''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ealing (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing]]}}
| 1886
| 1892
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Salisbury ministry|Salisbury II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:5th earl spencer.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer|John Spencer<br/>5th '''Earl Spencer''']]
| rowspan=2 | 1892
| rowspan=2 | 1895
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Gladstone IV]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Rosebery]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Goschen by Bassano.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen|'''George Goschen''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster St George's (UK Parliament constituency)|St George Hanover Square]]}}
| 1895
| 1900
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Salisbury<br/>{{Small|(III & IV)}}]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Unionist Party|Lib.U.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Unionist Party}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne.png|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne|William Palmer<br/>2nd '''Earl of Selborne''']]
| rowspan=3 | 1900
| rowspan=3 | 1905
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Liberal Unionist}} | [[Liberal Unionist Party|Liberal Unionist]]
|-
| rowspan=5 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Edward VII]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Balfour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord cawdor.jpg|75px]]
| [[Frederick Campbell, 3rd Earl Cawdor|Frederick Campbell<br/>3rd '''Earl Cawdor''']]
| 1905
| 1905
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Portrait of Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth|Edward Marjoribanks<br/>2nd '''Lord Tweedmouth''']]
| 1905
| 1908
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Campbell-Bannerman]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Reginald McKenna photo.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Reginald McKenna]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[North Monmouthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Monmouthshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 1908
| rowspan=2 | 1911
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Asquith<br/>{{Small|(I–III)}}]]
|-
| rowspan=15 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[George V]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Churchill 1904 Q 42037.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Winston Churchill]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee]]}}
| 1911
| 1915
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Gws balfour 02.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Arthur Balfour]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[City of London (UK Parliament constituency)|City of London]]}}
| 1915
| 1916
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Asquith coalition ministry|Asquith Coalition]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]{{Ndash}}[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]{{Ndash}}et al.'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Edward Carson, bw photo portrait seated.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Edward Carson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dublin University (constituency)|Dublin University]]}}
| 1916
| 1917
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Eric Campbell-Geddes in 1917.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Eric Geddes]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridge]]}}
| 1917
| 1919
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Long .jpg|75px]]
| [[Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long|'''Walter Long''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster St George's (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster St George's]]}}
| 1919
| 1921
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Viscount Lee of Fareham.JPG|75px]]
| [[Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham|Arthur Lee<br/>1st '''Baron Lee of Fareham''']]
| 1921
| 1922
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Leopold Amery MP.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Leo Amery]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Birmingham Sparkbrook (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Sparkbrook]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 1922
| rowspan=2 | 1924
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Law]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Baldwin I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent}}" |
| [[File:1stViscountChelmsford.jpg|75px]]
| [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger<br/>1st '''Viscount Chelmsford''']]
| 1924
| 1924
| {{Party shading/Independent}} | [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[First MacDonald ministry|MacDonald I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman.png|75px]]
| [[William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman|'''William Clive Bridgeman''']]<ref group=Note>MP for [[Oswestry (UK Parliament constituency)|Oswestry]]</ref>
| 1924
| 1929
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Baldwin ministry|Baldwin II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Albert-Victor-Alexander-Earl-Alexander-of-Hillsborough.jpg|75px]]
| [[A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough|'''A. V. Alexander''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Sheffield Hillsborough]]}}
| 1929
| 1931
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]<br/>{{Small|([[Co-operative Party|''Co-op'']])}}
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Second MacDonald ministry|MacDonald II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Laszlo - The Rt. Hon. Sir Austen Chamberlain.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Austen Chamberlain]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Birmingham West (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham West]]}}
| 1931
| 1931
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1931)|National I]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]{{Ndash}}[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]{{Ndash}}et al.'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Viscount Monsell.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[Bolton Eyres-Monsell, 1st Viscount Monsell|Bolton Eyres-Monsell<br/>1st '''Viscount Monsell''']]<ref group=Note>MP for [[Evesham (UK Parliament constituency)|Evesham]] until 1935; thereafter created Viscount Monsell.</ref>
| rowspan=3 | 1931
| rowspan=3 | 1936
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1931–1935)|National II]]
|-
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1935–1937)|National III]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]{{Ndash}}[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]{{Ndash}}et al.'')}}
|-
| rowspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Edward VIII]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood|'''Samuel Hoare''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelsea]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 1936
| rowspan=2 | 1937
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| rowspan=10 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[George VI]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Duff Cooper 1941.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Duff Cooper]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster St George's (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster St George's]]}}
| 1937
| 1938
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1937–1939)|National IV]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Stanhope7.JPG|75px]]
| [[James Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope|James Stanhope<br/>7th '''Earl Stanhope''']]
| 1938
| 1939
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Winston Churchill - 19086236948.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Winston Churchill]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Epping (UK Parliament constituency)|Epping]]}}
| 1939
| 1940
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Chamberlain war ministry|Chamberlain War]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Albert-Victor-Alexander-Earl-Alexander-of-Hillsborough.jpg|75px]]
| [[A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough|'''A. V. Alexander''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Sheffield Hillsborough]]}}
| 1940
| 1945
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]<br/>{{Small|([[Co-operative Party|''Co-op'']])}}
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Churchill war ministry|Churchill War]]<br/>{{Small|(''All parties'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Brendan Bracken 1947.jpg|75px]]
| [[Brendan Bracken, 1st Viscount Bracken|'''Brendan Bracken''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Paddington North (UK Parliament constituency)|Paddington North]]}}
| 1945
| 1945
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Churchill caretaker ministry|Churchill Caretaker]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|N.Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Albert-Victor-Alexander-Earl-Alexander-of-Hillsborough.jpg|75px]]
| [[A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough|'''A. V. Alexander''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Sheffield Hillsborough]]}}
| 1945
| 1946
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]<br/>{{Small|([[Co-operative Party|''Co-op'']])}}
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Attlee ministry|Attlee<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Henry Hall 1945.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Hall, 1st Viscount Hall|George Hall<br/>1st '''Viscount Hall''']]
| 1946
| 1951
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Longford 4 Allan Warren.jpg|75px]]
| [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Frank Pakenham<br/>1st '''Baron Pakenham''']]
| 1951
| 1951
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[James Thomas, 1st Viscount Cilcennin|James Thomas<br/>1st '''Viscount Cilcennin''']]<ref group=Note>MP for [[Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford]] until 1955; thereafter created Viscount Cilcennin.</ref>
| rowspan=3 | 1951
| rowspan=3 | 1956
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
|-
| rowspan=6 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br/>[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.svg|60px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Eden ministry|Eden]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg|75px]]
| [[Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone|Quintin Hogg<br/>2nd '''Viscount Hailsham''']]
| 1956
| 1957
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:10thEarl of Selkirk.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk|George Douglas-Hamilton<br/>10th '''Earl of Selkirk''']]
| 1957
| 1959
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Peter Carington 1984.jpg|75px]]
| [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Peter Carington<br/>6th '''Baron Carrington''']]
| 1959
| 1963
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|George Jellicoe<br/>2nd '''Earl Jellicoe''']]
| 1963
| 1964
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Douglas-Home]]

|}

From 1 April 1964 [[Elizabeth II]] assumed the title of [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]]. Ministerial responsibility for the Royal Navy was transferred to the newly created [[Secretary of State for Defence]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=43288 |date=3 April 1964 |page=2895 }}</ref>

'''Notes:'''

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

== Boards, departments and offices under the First Lord ==
* [[Admiralty in the 17th century|Admiralty and Marine Affairs Office]], (1628–1709)
* [[British Admiralty|Admiralty Department]], (1709–1964)
* [[Board of Admiralty]], (1628–1964)
* [[Navy Board]], (1628–1832)
* [[Sick and Hurt Commissioners|Sick and Hurt Board]], (1653–1806)
* [[Transport Board (Royal Navy)|Transport Board]], (1690–1724, 1794–1817)
* [[Victualling Commissioners|Victualling Board]], (1683–1832)
* [[Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Royal Navy)|Office of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty]]
* [[Senior Naval Lord|Office of the Senior Naval Lord]], (1689–1771)
* [[First Naval Lord|Office of the First Naval Lord]], (1771–1904)
* [[First Sea Lord|Office of the First Sea Lord]], (1904–1917)
* [[First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff|Office of the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff]], (1917–1964)
* [[Naval Secretary|Office of the Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]], (1800–1910)
* [[Naval Secretary|Office of the Naval Secretary]], (1910–1964)
* [[Secretary to the Admiralty|Office of the Secretary to the Admiralty]], (1660–1763)
* [[First Secretary to the Admiralty|Office of the First Secretary to the Admiralty]], (1763–1871)
* [[Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty|Office of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty]], (1871–1886)
* [[Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty|Office of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty]], (1886–1959)
* [[Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty|Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty]], (1882–1964)

== Fictional First Lords ==
[[File:Our New First Lord at Sea.png|thumb|upright|[[William Henry Smith (1825–1891)|W. H. Smith]] portrayed in a ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' cartoon from 13 October 1877 when First Lord, saying: "I think I'll now go below." In ''Pinafore'', Sir Joseph Porter similarly sings: "When the breezes blow / I generally go below".]]

The [[Liberal Party (UK)|"Radical"]] First Lord, and a major character, in [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s comic opera ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'' (1878), is Sir Joseph Henry Porter, [[Order of the Bath|KCB]].  [[W. S. Gilbert]] wrote to [[Arthur Sullivan]] he did not intend to portray the real-life then First Lord, the bookseller and newsagent [[William Henry Smith (1825–1891)|W. H. Smith]], a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Jacobs|first=Arthur|title=Arthur Sullivan – A Victorian Musician|year=1986|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=114|isbn=0-19-282033-8}}</ref> although some of the public, including Prime Minister [[Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield|Disraeli]] (who later referred to Smith as "Pinafore Smith"), identified Porter with him.<ref>{{cite book|title=Arthur Sullivan, A Victorian Musician|page=115}}</ref> The counterparts shared a known lack of naval background.  It has been suggested the character was drawn on Smith's actual "Radical" predecessor of 1868–71, [[Hugh Childers]].<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=5296|title=Childers, Hugh Culling Eardley (1827–1896)|first=H. C. G.|last=Matthew|authorlink=Colin Matthew}}</ref>

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== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

=== Attribution ===
* This article contains some text from: Vesey, Richard Sir, Admiral, (1896), ''Naval Administration: The Constitution, Character, and Functions of the Board of Admiralty, and of the Civil Departments it Directs, George Bell and Sons, London''.

== Sources ==
* Bell, Christopher M. "Sir John Fisher's Naval Revolution Reconsidered: Winston Churchill at the Admiralty, 1911–1914." ''War in History'' 18.3 (2011): 333–356. [https://www.academia.edu/download/33082770/Naval_Revolution_Reconsidered.pdf online]{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* Hamilton, C. I. (2011). ''The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|9780521765183}}.
* [[Nicholas A. M. Rodger|Rodger, N. A. M.]], ''The Admiralty'' (Lavenham, 1979)
* Sainty, J. C. ''Admiralty Officials, 1660–1870'' (London, 1975)

{{First Lords of the Admiralty}}
{{Board of Admiralty|state=collapsed}}
{{Admiralty Department|state=collapsed}}
{{Naval Service (British)|state=collapsed}}

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