The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty also known as the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Board of Admiralty was a position on the

Board of Admiralty The Board of Admiralty (1628–1964) was established in 1628 when Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission. As that position was not always occupied, the purpose was to enable management of the day-to-day operational requi ...

and a civil officer of the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

. It was usually filled by a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

. Although he attended Board of Admiralty meetings informally he was not made a full member of that Board until 1929. He served as the deputy to the

First Lord of the Admiralty The First Lord of the Admiralty, or formally the Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty, 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 di ...

in Parliament and was mainly responsible for all naval finance and spending proposals from 1625 until 1959.

History

The office was originally created in 1625 with the post holders holding titles under various names such as Secretaries to the Lords Admiral, Admiralty, Committees and Commissions. In July 1660 the post of Secretary to the Admiralty was formally created which lasted until 18 June 1763 when the office was then restyled First Secretary to the Admiralty this remained in place until 1870 when the First Secretary was renamed Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, while the office of

Second Secretary to the Admiralty The Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty was the permanent secretary at the British Admiralty, Admiralty, the department of state in Great Britain responsible for the administration of the Royal Navy. He was head of the Admiralty Secretariat, late ...

was renamed

Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty The Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty was the permanent secretary at the Admiralty, the department of state in Great Britain responsible for the administration of the Royal Navy. He was head of the Admiralty Secretariat, later known as the '' D ...

. In 1886, the Parliamentary Secretary was renamed Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty. In 1929 the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary is made a full member of the Board of Admiralty. In 1930, the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary served as Civil Lord to the Board of Admiralty. In 1959 the office of Parliamentary and Financial Secretary was abolished with the approval of parliament. In 1964 the Admiralty and thus Board of Admiralty was also abolished and merged into a new larger

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

under the control of the

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In o ...

and

Under-Secretary of State Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (or just Parliamentary Secretary, particularly in departments not led by a Secretary of State) is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the UK government, immediately junior to a Minister ...

for the Navy.

Responsibilities

''His duties have included at various times'' * All proposals for new and unusual expenditure * All questions involving reference to the treasury financially * Accounts cash, store, and dockyard expense. * Contract business except as dealt with by the controller * Finance * Estimates * Exchequer and audit department—questions with * Expenditure generally * General labour questions, including annual petitions * Payment of hire of ships * Purchases and sales of naval and victualling stores * Purchase and sale of ships * Purchase and sale of stores generally. * Questions involving reference to the treasury financially, except as provided for under civil lord

Office holders

Secretaries to the Lords Admiral, Admiralty, Committees and Commissions

Included:
Notes: From 1645 until 1652 there were two joint secretaries. * Sir

Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Nicholas (4 April 15931669) was an English officeholder and politician who served as Secretary of State to Charles I and Charles II. He also sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1629. He served as secretary ...

, 1625–1638 * Sir Thomas Smith, 1638–1645 *

William Jessop William Jessop (23 January 1745 – 18 November 1814) was an English civil engineer, best known for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Early life Jessop was born in Devonport, Devon, the ...

and Robert Coytmore, (jointly), 1645–1652 *

Robert Blackborne The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, 1652– July 1660

Secretaries to the Admiralty

Included: * Sir

William Coventry Sir William Coventry (4th October 162723 June 1686) was an English statesman. Early life and Civil War William was the son of the lord keeper Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry, by his second wife Elizabeth Aldersley. Coventry matriculated ...

, July 1660 – September 1667 * Matthew Wren, September 1667 – July 1672 * Sir John Werden, July 1672 1667 – June 1673 *

Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys (; 23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English diarist and naval administrator. He served as administrator of the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament and is most famous for the diary he kept for a decade. Pepys had no mariti ...

, June 1673 – May 1679 *

Thomas Hayter Thomas Hayter (1702 – 9 January 1762) was an English whig divine, who served as a Church of England bishop for 13 years, and was a royal chaplain. As a party advocate of the Pelhamites and a friend of the Duke of Newcastle, he was at the height ...

May 1679 – February 1680 *

John Brisbane John Brisbane (d. 1776 ?) was a Scottish physician. Brisbane graduated M.D. at Edinburgh in 1750, and was admitted licentiate of the College of Physicians in 1766. He held the post of physician to the Middlesex Hospital Middlesex Hospital ...

, February 1680 – May 1684 *

, May 1684 – March 1689 * Phineas Bowles, March 1689 – January 1690 *

James Southerne James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

, January 1690 – August 1694 * William Bridgeman, August 1694–26 September 1698 ''joint with

Josiah Burchett Josiah Burchett (c.1665 – 2 October 1746), of Hampstead, Middlesex, was a British naval administrator and Whig politician, who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1705 and 1741. He was Secretary of the Admiralty in Engl ...

until 24 June 1698'' *

, 26 September 1698 – 20 May 1702 *

George Clarke George Clarke (7 May 1661 – 22 October 1736), of All Souls, Oxford, was an English architect, print collector and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1702 and 1736. Life The son of Sir William Clarke ...

, 20 May 1702 – 25 October 1705 ''joint with

'' *

, 25 October 1705 – 29 April 1741 * Thomas Corbett, 1741–1751 ''joint with

'' until 14 October 1742 * John Clevland, 30 April 1751 – 18 June 1763

First Secretaries to the Admiralty

Included: * Philip Stephens, 18 June 1763 – 3 March 1795 *

Evan Nepean Sir Evan Nepean, 1st Baronet, PC FRS (9 July 1752 – 2 October 1822)Sparrow (n.d.) was a British politician and colonial administrator. He was the first of the Nepean Baronets. Family Nepean was born at St. Stephens near Saltash, Cornwall, ...

, 3 March 1795 – 21 January 1804 * William Marsden, 24 January 1804 – 24 June 1807 * Hon. William Wellesley Pole, 24 June 1807 – 12 October 1809 *

John Wilson Croker John Wilson Croker (20 December 178010 August 1857) was an Anglo-Irish statesman and author. Life He was born in Galway, the only son of John Croker, the surveyor-general of customs and excise in Ireland. He was educated at Trinity College Dubl ...

, 12 October 1809 – 2 May 1827 ''Notes: The Board of Admiralty commission ceased and came under the control of the

Lord High Admirals Council The Lord High Admirals Council was a series of councils appointed to advise and assist the Lord High Admiral of England and then later of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the direction of Naval Affairs also known as Council of ...

from 1827 to 1828.'' * Hon. George Elliot, 1828–1834 *

George Robert Dawson George Robert Dawson (24 December 1790 – 3 April 1856), was an Anglo-Irish Tory politician. Background and education Dawson was born at Castledawson, County Londonderry, Ireland, the son of Arthur Dawson, who represented Banagher, Mid ...

, 1834–1835 * Charles Wood, 1835–1839 *

Richard More O'Ferrall Richard More O'Ferrall (10 April 1797 – 27 October 1880) was an Irish politician, a high level British government official and a Governor of Malta. Born to a noble Irish Catholic family at Balyna, he was the eldest son and heir of Ambrose Mo ...

, 1839–1841 * John Parker, 1841 * Hon. Sidney Herbert, 1841–1845 * Hon. Henry Lowry-Corry, 1845–1846 *

Henry George Ward Sir Henry George Ward GCMG (27 February 17972 August 1860) was an English diplomat, politician, and colonial administrator. Early life He was the son of Robert Ward (who in 1828 changed his surname by sign manual to Plumer Ward) and his first ...

, 1846–1849 * John Parker, 1849–1852 * Augustus Stafford, 1852 *

Ralph Bernal Osborne Ralph Bernal Osborne of Newtown Anner House, County Tipperary, MP (26 March 1808 – 4 January 1882), born and baptised with the name of Ralph Bernal, Jr., was a British Liberal politician. Life He was the eldest son of London Sephardic Spani ...

, 1853–1858 * Hon. Henry Lowry-Corry, 1858–1859 *

Lord Clarence Paget Admiral Lord Clarence Edward Paget (17 June 1811 – 22 March 1895) was a British naval officer, politician, and sculptor. Naval career Born the younger son of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, Paget in 1827 like many younger sons of nobility enter ...

, 1859–1866 * Hon. Thomas Baring, 1866 * Lord Henry Lennox, 1866–1868 *

William Edward Baxter William Edward Baxter (24 June 1825 – 10 August 1890) was a Scottish businessman, Liberal politician and travel writer. Background and education Born in Dundee, Angus, Baxter was educated at the High School of Dundee and the University of E ...

, 1868–1871

Parliamentary Secretaries to the Admiralty

* George Shaw-Lefevre, 1871–1874 * Hon. Algernon Egerton, 1874–1880 * George Shaw-Lefevre, 1880 * George Trevelyan, 1880–1882 *

Henry Campbell-Bannerman Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (né Campbell; 7 September 183622 April 1908) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. He served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1 ...

, 1882–1884 *

Thomas Brassey Thomas Brassey (7 November 18058 December 1870) was an English civil engineering contractor and manufacturer of building materials who was responsible for building much of the world's railways in the 19th century. By 1847, he had built about o ...

, 1884–1885 * Charles Ritchie, 1885–1886

Parliamentary and Financial Secretaries to the Admiralty

* J. T. Hibbert 1886 *

Arthur Forwood Sir Arthur Bower Forwood, 1st Baronet, (23 June 1836 – 27 September 1898) was an English merchant, shipowner, and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1885 until his death, and in 1895 he was created a baronet. Early ...

1886–1892 * Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, Bt, 1892–1895 * William Ellison-Macartney 1895–1900 *

H. O. Arnold-Forster Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster PC (19 August 1855 – 12 March 1909), known as H. O. Arnold-Forster, was a British politician and writer. He notably served as Secretary of State for War from 1903 in Balfour's Conservative government until Decemb ...

1900–1903 *

E. G. Pretyman Ernest George Pretyman, (13 November 1859 – 26 November 1931), known as E. G. Pretyman, was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician. Background and education Born on 13 November 1859 and christened on 1 January 1860 at Great C ...

1903–1905 * Edmund Robertson 1905–1908 *

Thomas Macnamara Thomas James Macnamara PC (23 August 1861 – 3 December 1931) was a British teacher, educationalist and radical Liberal politician. Biography Macnamara was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the son of a soldier originally from County Clar ...

1908–1920 * Sir James Craig, Bt 1920–1921 *

Leo Amery Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery, (22 November 1873 – 16 September 1955), also known as L. S. Amery, was a British Conservative Party politician and journalist. During his career, he was known for his interest in military preparedness, ...

1921–1922 * Bolton Eyres-Monsell 1922–1923 *

Archibald Boyd-Carpenter Major Sir Archibald Boyd Boyd-Carpenter (26 March 1873 – 27 May 1937) was a British Conservative Party politician. Career The fourth son of William Boyd-Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon and Canon of Westminster, Archibald Boyd-Carpenter was ed ...

1923–1924 * Charles Ammon 1924 *

J. C. C. Davidson John Colin Campbell Davidson, 1st Viscount Davidson, (23 February 1889 – 11 December 1970), known before his elevation to the peerage as J. C. C. Davidson, was a British civil servant and Conservative Party politician, best known for his clo ...

1924–1926 * Cuthbert Headlam 1926–1929 * Charles Ammon 1929–1931 * The Earl Stanhope 1931 *

Lord Stanley Earl of Derby ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby, under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the en ...

1931–1935 * Sir Victor Warrender, Bt 1935 *

1935–1937 * Geoffrey Shakespeare 1937–1940 * Sir Victor Warrender, Bt 1940–1945 * John Dugdale 1945–1950 *

James Callaghan Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, ( ; 27 March 191226 March 2005), commonly known as Jim Callaghan, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980. Callaghan is ...

1950–1951 *

Allan Noble Sir Allan Herbert Percy Noble, DSO, DSC (1908 – 17 November 1982) was an English naval commander, politician, and diplomat. Career Noble was the elder son of Admiral Sir Percy Noble. He joined the Royal Navy in 1926 and was a destroyer command ...

1951–1955 * George Ward 1955–1957 *

Christopher Soames Arthur Christopher John Soames, Baron Soames, (12 October 1920 – 16 September 1987) was a British Conservative politician who served as a European Commissioner and the last Governor of Southern Rhodesia. He was previously Member of Parliame ...

1957–1958 * Robert Allan 1958–1959 * Charles Ian Orr-Ewing 1959 ''office abolished on 16 October 1959''

Departments under the office

Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy The Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy also known as Accountant-General's Department was the department charged by the British Government with reviewing all naval estimates, conducting naval audits and processing payments from 1829 t ...

Department of the Director of Contracts Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

* Contracts and Purchase Department

Citations

General and cited sources

* * Rodger, N.A.M. (1979). The Admiralty. Lavenham: Terence Dalton Ltd, Suffolk, England, . {{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary To The Admiralty P Civil service positions in the United Kingdom Admiralty during World War II