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The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of a number of Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries. The position originates in the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislature in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories....
. His equivalent in the House of Commons
House of Commons

The House of Commons is the name of the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada.In the UK and Canada, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the upper house of parliament ....
 is the Sergeant-at-Arms.

office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent
Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government, granting an office, right, government-granted monopoly, title, or status to a person or to some entity such as a corporation....
, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they copied the British Westminster system
Westminster System

The Westminster system is a Democracy parliamentary system of government modelled after the British government . The term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament....
.






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The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of a number of Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries. The position originates in the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislature in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories....
. His equivalent in the House of Commons
House of Commons

The House of Commons is the name of the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada.In the UK and Canada, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the upper house of parliament ....
 is the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Origin

The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent
Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government, granting an office, right, government-granted monopoly, title, or status to a person or to some entity such as a corporation....
, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they copied the British Westminster system
Westminster System

The Westminster system is a Democracy parliamentary system of government modelled after the British government . The term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament....
. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony
Ebony

Ebony is a general name for very dense black wood. In the strict sense it is yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but other heavy, black woods are sometimes also called ebony....
 staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.

Black Rod in the United Kingdom


Appointment

Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments
Clerk of the Parliaments

The Clerk of the Parliaments is the chief clerk of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Clerk of the House of Commons....
, to whom he reports. Prior to 2002 the office was held by a retired senior officer from the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
 or the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
 and was rotated between each service. It is now advertised openly. Black Rod is an officer of the English Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms; it is the pinnacle of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom....
, and takes the rank of knight bachelor
Knight Bachelor

The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Chivalric order....
. His deputy is the Yeoman
Yeoman

Yeoman is a noun used to indicate a variety of positions or social classes and is also used as a complimentary adjective in reference to a diligent, dependable worker or the work of such a person....
 Usher of the Black Rod.

Official duties

Black Rod has a number of official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain
Lord Great Chamberlain

The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable....
 he is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms; it is the pinnacle of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom....
 (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
.

Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege
Parliamentary privilege

Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection of civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislature....
 or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, in London, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom meet....
. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, and plays a role in the induction of all new Lords Temporal
Lord Temporal

In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Lords Temporal are secular members of the House of Lords. The term is used to differentiate lords—who are either life peers or hereditary peers, although the hereditary rights to the House of Lords was abolished in 1999—from the Lords Spiritual, who sit in the House as bishops in the Ch...
 into the House (but not of bishops as new Lords Spiritual).

The Salary (2008) for the position was £81,600

Ceremonial duties


The Mace
Black Rod is in theory responsible for carrying the Mace
Ceremonial mace

The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal and wood, carried before a Head of state or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority....
 into and out of the chamber for the Speaker of the House of Lords (formerly the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor

The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom....
, now the Lord Speaker
Lord Speaker

The Lord Speaker is the speaker of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The office is analogous to the Speaker of the British House of Commons: the Lord Speaker is "appointed" by the members of the House of Lords and is expected to be politically impartial....
), though this role is delegated to the Yeoman
Yeoman

Yeoman is a noun used to indicate a variety of positions or social classes and is also used as a complimentary adjective in reference to a diligent, dependable worker or the work of such a person....
 Usher and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, or on judicial occasions, to the Lord Speaker's deputy, the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms.

State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament

In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event held usually in late October or November that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
 and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I of England
Charles I of England

Charles I was List of English monarchs, List of monarchs of Scotland and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his capital punishment on 30 January 1649....
 to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.

In recent years, Black Rod has 'suffered' a friendly jibe on this annual occasion from the outspoken Labour MP
Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators....
 Dennis Skinner
Dennis Skinner

Dennis Edward Skinner is a British politician, who has been the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bolsover since 1970. He is nicknamed 'the Beast of Bolsover' because of his rebellious and curmudgeonly reputation....
.

Scottish Parliament

Before the Acts of Union 1707
Acts of Union 1707

The Acts of Union were a pair of Act of Parliament passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England to put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706, following negotiation between commissioners representing the parliaments of the two countries....
 united the English and Scottish parliaments, there was a Gentleman Usher of the White Rod who had a similar role in the Scottish Parliament. This office no longer exists.

See also Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher

Gentleman Usher is a title for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. See List of Gentlemen Ushers for a list of office-holders....
 for other colours.


Black Rod in other Commonwealth countries


As in the United Kingdom, Black Rod is responsible for arresting any senator or intruder who disrupts the proceedings.

Canada

See Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada
Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada

The Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada is the most senior protocol position in the Parliament of Canada.The office is modeled on the Black Rod of the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....


Australia

The Australian Senate
Australian Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. The lower house is known as the Australian House of Representatives....
 has Mr Brien Hallett as Usher of the Black Rod and Mr Nick Tate as Deputy Usher of the Black Rod. One of these is present for the induction of all Senators. Each bicameral Australian state (that is, all but Queensland) also has its own Black Rod.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, where the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council

The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed rather than elected....
 was abolished in 1951, the Usher of the Black Rod continues to summon MPs to the chamber for the Throne Speech. It is not a full-time position. Colonel William (Bill) Nathan, OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
 ED
Ed

Ed, ed or ED can mean any of the following:...
, was Usher of the Black Rod 1993 to 2005. The position is currently held by David Baguley

Counterparts in other countries


United States

In the United States of America, the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate

The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is the law enforcer for the United States Senate. One of the chief roles of the Sergeant is to hold the gavel used at every session....
 is the law enforcer for the United States Senate
United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism United States Congress, the lower house being the United States House of Representatives....
. One of the chief roles of the Sergeant is to hold the gavel
Gavel

A gavel is a small Ceremony mallet commonly made of hardwood, typically fashioned with a handle and often struck against a sound block to enhance its sounding qualities....
 used at every session. The Sergeant can also request the attendance of absent Senators. With the Architect of the Capitol
Architect of the Capitol

The Architect of the Capitol is the Government agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, and also the head of that agency....
 and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, he serves on the Capitol Police Board
Capitol Police Board

The Capitol Police Board is a group of three members who maintain jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Police. The three members of this board are the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives....
, responsible for security in and around the Capitol proper and Congressional office buildings. The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate is empowered to arrest any person upon their violating Senate rules (including the President of the United States
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
). The incumbent is Terrance W. Gainer
Terrance W. Gainer

Terrance William Gainer is the 38th and current Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and has served in this appointment since January 4, 2007....
.

Black Rods (UK) from 1361

  • c.1361–1387: Walter Whitehorse
  • 1387–1399: John Cray
  • 1399–1410: Thomas Sy
  • 1410–1413: John Sheffield
  • 1413–1415: John Athelbrigg
  • 1415–1418: William Hargroave
  • 1418–1423: John Clifford
  • 1423–1428: John Carsons
  • 1428–1459: William Pope
  • 1438–1459: Robert Manfield (joint)
  • 1459–1461: John Penycok
  • 1461–1471: vacant?
  • 1471–1485: William Evington
  • 1483–1485: Edward Hardgill (joint)
  • 1485–1489: Robert Marleton
  • 1489–1513: Ralph Assheton
  • 1495–1513: Hugh Dennys (joint)
  • 1513–1526: Sir William Compton
    William Compton (courtier)

    Sir William Compton was one of the most prominent courtiers during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Born around 1482, Compton was about nine years older than his king, but the two became close friends....
  • 1526–1536: Sir Henry Norreys
    Sir Henry Norreys

    Sir Henry Norris was a groom of the stool in the privy chamber of Henry VIII of England. While a close servant of the King he also supported the faction in court led by Anne Boleyn, and when Anne fell out of favour he was among those accused of adultery with her....
  • 1536–1543: Anthony Knyvett
  • 1543–1554: Sir Philip Hoby
    Philip Hoby

    Sir Philip Hoby was a 16th century English people Ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and Flanders.He was born probably at Leominster, England, the son of William Hoby of Leominster by his first wife, Katherine Forster....
  • 1554–1565: John Norreys
  • 1554–1591: Sir William Norreys (joint)
  • 1591–1593: Anthony Wingfield
  • 1593–1598: Simon Bowyer
  • 1598–1620: Richard Coningsby
  • 1605–1620: George Pollard (joint)
  • 1620–1642: James Maxwell
    James Maxwell

    James Maxwell may be:*James Clerk Maxwell , physicist*James Laidlaw Maxwell , missionary to Formosa*James Maxwell *Jim Maxwell *Jim Maxwell - Notable teacher at Lanier Middle School in Houston, Texas...
  • 1642–1661: James Maxwell and Alexander Thayne (Parliamentary)
  • 1645–1661: Peter Newton (Royalist)
  • 1661–1671: Sir John Ayton
  • 1671–1683: Sir Edward Carteret
    Edward Carteret

    Edward Carteret was a politician and served as Postmaster General of the United Kingdom from 1721 until his death.He was the third son of Philip Carteret FRS and younger brother of George Carteret, 1st Baron Carteret....
  • 1683–1694: Sir Thomas Duppa
  • 1694 – 25 August 1698: Sir Fleetwood Sheppard
    Fleetwood Sheppard

    Fleetwood Sheppard was a British people courtier and literary wit who was instrumental in the courts of Charles II of England and William III of England....
  • 5 December 1698 – 1 June 1710: Admiral
    Admiral

    Admiral is the military rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral....
     Sir David Mitchell
  • 1710–1718: Sir William Oldes
  • 1718–1727: Sir William Saunderson, 1st Baronet
  • 1727–1747: Sir Charles Dalton
    Charles Dalton

    Sir Charles Dalton was a Prince Edward Island businessman, politician and philanthropist.Fox earned his fortune through silver fox breeding, in the process making the island the centre of the world's trade in the fur-bearing animal....
  • 1747–1760: Sir Henry Bellenden
  • 1760 – 6 September 1765: Sir Septimus Robinson
  • 1765–1812: Sir Francis Molyneux, 7th Baronet
  • 1812 – 25 July 1832: Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt
  • 25 July 1832 – 8 February 1877: Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, 1st Baronet
  • 3 May 1877 – 23 June 1883: Sir William Knollys
  • 24 July 1883 – 7 October 1895: Sir James Drummond
    James Robert Drummond

    Admiral Sir James Robert Drummond was a British naval officer, who was captain of HMS Retribution , HMS Tribune , and HMS Albion as part of the Mediterranean Fleet during the Crimean War, and who as an admiral commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from 13 January 1874 to 15 January 1877....
  • 11 February 1896 to 23 July 1904 - Sir Michael Biddulph
    Michael Biddulph

    Michael Biddulph may refer to:* Michael Biddulph of Elmhurst, Member of Parliament for Lichfield * Sir Michael Biddulph, 2nd Baronet , English politician, Member of Parliament for Lichfield five times ...
  • August 1904 – 16 December 1919: Sir Henry Stephenson
  • January 1920 – 14 May 1941: Lieutenant-General Sir William Pulteney
  • October 1941 – 15 August 1944: Air Chief Marshal
    Air Chief Marshal

    Air Chief Marshal is a senior air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force . The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-speci...
     Sir William Mitchell
    William Mitchell (RAF officer)

    Air Chief Marshal Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Air Force Cross was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force and the first RAF officer to hold the post of Black Rod....
  • January 1945 – 18 January 1949: Vice Admiral
    Vice Admiral

    Vice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. A Vice Admiral is typically senior to a Rear Admiral and junior to an Admiral....
     Sir Geoffrey Blake
  • 18 January 1949 – 18 June 1963: Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks
    Brian Horrocks

    Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross was a United Kingdom army officer....
  • 18 June 1963 – October 1970: Air Chief Marshal Sir George Mills
    George Mills (RAF officer)

    Air Chief Marshal Sir George Holroyd Mills, Order of the Bath, Distinguished Flying Cross , Royal Air Force was a senior Royal Air Force commander....
  • October 1970 – 18 January 1978: Admiral Sir Frank Twiss
    Frank Twiss

    Sir Frank Roddam Twiss, Order of the Bath, Royal Victorian Order, Distinguished Service Cross was a Royal Navy admiral and Second Sea Lord who banned the naval Splice the mainbrace....
  • 18 January 1978 – January 1985: Lieutenant-General Sir David House
    David House

    Lieutenant-General Sir David George House, Order of the Bath, CBE, Royal Victorian Order, Military Cross was a British Army officer who was General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and later held the office of Black Rod....
  • January 1985 – January 1992: Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell
    John Gingell

    Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell, Order of the British Empire, Order of the Bath, Royal Victorian Order, Royal Air Force was a senior Royal Air Force commander....
  • January 1992 – 8 May 1995: Admiral Sir Richard Thomas
  • 9 May 1995 – 8 May 2001: General
    General

    A General officer is an Officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is just called general....
     Sir Edward Jones
  • 9 May 2001 – December 2008: Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks
    Michael Willcocks

    Lieutenant General Sir Michael Alan Willcocks, Order of the Bath is the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Lords....
  • January 2009 - present: Lieutenant-General Ian Davidson
    Ian Davidson

    Ian Davidson may refer to:*Ian Damon, real name Ian Davidson, Australian broadcaster and disc jockey*Ian Davidson , English footballer*Ian Davidson , Scottish Labour Party MP...


Black Rods (Canada) from 1867


  • 1867–1875 Renι Kimber
  • 1875–1901 Renι Edouard Kimber
  • 1902–1904 Molyneux St. John
  • 1904–1925 Ernest John Chambers
  • 1925–1946 Andrew Ruthven Thompson
  • 1947–1970 Charles Rock Lamoureux
  • 1970–1979 A. Guy Vandelac
  • 1979–1984 Thomas Guy Bowie
  • 1984–1985 Claude G. Lajoie
  • 1985–1989 Renι M. Jalbert
  • 1989–1990 Rene Gutknecht
  • 1990–1997 Jean Dorι
  • 1997–2001 Mary C. McLaren
  • 2001–2002 Blair Armitage (Interim)
  • 2002–2008 Terrance J. Christopher
  • 2008 Blair Armitage (Interim)
  • 2008- Kevin S. MacLeod


External links