First Sea Lord
Encyclopedia
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS. The current First Sea Lord is Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the 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 . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...

 Sir Mark Stanhope
Mark Stanhope
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE is the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy.-Early life:...

 (appointed 21 July 2009).

History

The Lord High Admiral
Lord High Admiral
Lord High Admiral can refer to:* Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom * Lord High Admiral of Scotland* Lord High Admiral of the Wash* Lord High Admiral of Sweden-See also:...

 and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty  date back to the 17th century as the governing body of the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. From 1683 to 1684 there were seven paid Commissioners and one supernumerary Commissioner who served without salary. The number varied between five and seven Commissioners through the 18th century. The standing of all the Commissioners was in theory the same, although the First Commissioner or First Lord exercised an ascendancy over his colleagues from an early date.

In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents. The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904. From 1923 onwards, the First Sea Lord was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of the most senior military personnel in the British Armed Forces.-History:The Chiefs of Staff Committee was initially established as a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1923. It remained as such until the abolition of the CID upon the...

; and from 1923 to 1959 in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff) would serve as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces. The title was retained when the Board of Admiralty was abolished in 1964 and its functions integrated into the Ministry of Defence.

Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on both the Defence Council, and the Admiralty Board.

First Naval Lords, 1828–1904

First Naval Lords include:
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn
    George Cockburn
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord.-Naval...

     1828–1830
  • Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy 1830–1834
  • Rear Admiral The Hon. Sir George Heneage Dundas
    George Heneage Dundas
    Rear Admiral George Heneage Lawrence Dundas CB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord.-Family:He was the fifth son of Thomas Dundas by his wife Charlotte, daughter of the third Earl Fitzwilliam.-HMS Queen Charlotte:In February 1800 George Heneage Dundas was aboard Lord Keith's flagship,...

     1834
  • Admiral Sir Charles Adam
    Charles Adam
    Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB was a British naval officer. He was the second son of William Adam of Blair Adam and his wife Eleanora, the daughter of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone and sister of Lord Keith....

     1834
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn
    George Cockburn
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord.-Naval...

     1834–1835
  • Admiral Sir Charles Adam
    Charles Adam
    Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB was a British naval officer. He was the second son of William Adam of Blair Adam and his wife Eleanora, the daughter of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone and sister of Lord Keith....

     1835–1841
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn
    George Cockburn
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord.-Naval...

     1841–1846
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Parker, Bt 1846
  • Admiral Sir Charles Adam
    Charles Adam
    Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB was a British naval officer. He was the second son of William Adam of Blair Adam and his wife Eleanora, the daughter of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone and sister of Lord Keith....

     1846–1847
  • Admiral Sir James Dundas
    James Whitley Deans Dundas
    Admiral Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas GCB was a Royal Navy officer and a First Sea Lord.-Naval career:...

     1847–1852
  • Admiral The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
    Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge
    Admiral Sir Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge, GCB PC, DL was a British Royal Navy First Sea Lord and former First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria.-Royal Navy career:...

     1852
  • Vice Admiral Hyde Parker
    Hyde Parker (Sea Lord)
    Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker CB was a senior British naval officer who started to serve during the Napoleonic Wars and who was appointed First Naval Lord of the Admiralty in 1852...

     1852–1854
  • Admiral The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
    Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge
    Admiral Sir Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge, GCB PC, DL was a British Royal Navy First Sea Lord and former First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria.-Royal Navy career:...

     1854–1857
  • Vice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
    Richard Saunders Dundas
    Vice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, KCB was a British naval officer and was the British First Sea Lord from 1857 to 1858 and again from 1859 until his death in 1861.-Early life:...

     1857–1858
  • Admiral Sir William Martin
    Sir William Martin, 4th Baronet
    Admiral Sir William Fanshawe Martin, 4th Baronet GCB , was a senior British naval officer.-Naval career:...

     1858–1859
  • Vice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
    Richard Saunders Dundas
    Vice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, KCB was a British naval officer and was the British First Sea Lord from 1857 to 1858 and again from 1859 until his death in 1861.-Early life:...

     1859–1861
  • Admiral The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey
    Frederick Grey
    Admiral Sir Frederick William Grey GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord.-Naval career:Born the son of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, the former Prime Minister, Grey joined the Royal Navy in 1819. He was given command of HMS Actaeon in 1830, HMS Jupiter in 1835, HMS Endymion in 1840...

     1861–1866
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne
    Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet, GCB was a Royal Navy admiral, the second son of the Scot Admiral Sir David Milne, and the younger brother of the advocate, geologist and meteorologist David Milne-Home.-Naval career:He entered the Royal Naval Academy, 8 February 1817...

     1866–1868
  • Admiral Sir Sydney Dacres
    Sydney Dacres
    Admiral Sir Sydney Colpoys Dacres GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Crimean War. Born into a substantial naval dynasty during the Napoleonic Wars, he eventually rose to the rank of Admiral and became First Naval Lord.-Family and early life:Dacres was born in 1805,...

     1868–1872
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne
    Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet, GCB was a Royal Navy admiral, the second son of the Scot Admiral Sir David Milne, and the younger brother of the advocate, geologist and meteorologist David Milne-Home.-Naval career:He entered the Royal Naval Academy, 8 February 1817...

     1872–1876
  • Admiral Sir Hastings Yelverton
    Hastings Yelverton
    Admiral Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB, born Hastings Reginald Henry , was a British naval officer of the 19th century...

     1876–1877
  • Admiral Sir George Wellesley
    George Wellesley
    Admiral Sir George Greville Wellesley GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. He was a nephew of the Duke of Wellington.-Naval career:Wellesley joined the Royal Navy in 1828...

     1877–1879
  • Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key
    Astley Cooper Key
    Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key, GCB, ADC, FRS was a Royal Navy officer who became First Naval Lord.-Naval career:Born the son of Charles Aston Key , a well-known surgeon, Key joined the Royal Navy in 1833...

     1879–1885
  • Admiral Sir Arthur Acland Hood
    Arthur Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon
    Admiral Arthur William Acland Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon GCB , was an officer of the Royal Navy who held command during the Crimean War and later served as First Naval Lord.- Early life :...

     1885–1886
  • Admiral of the Fleet Lord John Hay 1886
  • Admiral Sir Arthur Acland Hood
    Arthur Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon
    Admiral Arthur William Acland Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon GCB , was an officer of the Royal Navy who held command during the Crimean War and later served as First Naval Lord.- Early life :...

     1886–1889
  • Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton
    Richard Vesey Hamilton
    Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. His father was rector of Little Chart in Kent.-Naval career:...

     1889–1891
  • Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins
    Anthony Hoskins
    Admiral Sir Anthony Hiley Hoskins GCB , was a British naval officer who was First Naval Lord from 1891 to 1893.-Naval career:Educated at Winchester College, Hoskins entered the Royal Navy in 1842...

     1891–1893
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Richards
    Frederick Richards
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick William Richards GCB was the British First Naval Lord from 1893 to 1899.-Early life:...

     1893–1899
  • Admiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Kerr
    Lord Walter Kerr
    Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, GCB, PC was the British First Naval Lord from 1899 to 1904.-Early Life and Indian Mutiny:...

     1899–1904

First Sea Lords, 1904–present

First Sea Lords include:
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Arbuthnot Fisher 1904–1910
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson
    Arthur Knyvet Wilson
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson VC, GCB, OM, GCVO was an English Admiral and briefly First Sea Lord who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the war in Sudan...

     1910–1911
  • Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman 1911–1912
  • Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg 1912–1914
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Fisher 1914–1915
  • Admiral Sir Henry Jackson
    Henry Bradwardine Jackson
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson GCB, KCVO, FRS was British First Sea Lord during much of the First World War...

     1915–1916
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Jellicoe
    John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe
    Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO was a British Royal Navy admiral who commanded the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in World War I...

     1916–1917
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Wemyss
    Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss
    Admiral of the Fleet Rosslyn Erskine Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss GCB, CMG, MVO , known as Sir Rosslyn Wemyss between 1916 and 1919, was a British naval commander...

     1917–1919
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Beatty
    David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
    Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...

     1919–1927
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden, Bt 1927–1930
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field
    Frederick Field (Royal Navy officer)
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Laurence Field GCB KCMG was a British Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet who served as First Sea Lord from 1930 to 1933...

     1930–1933
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Chatfield
    Ernle Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield
    Admiral of the Fleet The Rt Hon. Sir Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield, GCB, OM, KCMG, CVO, PC was a Royal Navy officer and held the position of First Sea Lord from 1933 to 1939...

     1933–1938
  • Admiral Sir Roger Backhouse
    Roger Backhouse
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Roland Charles Backhouse GCB GCVO CMG was an Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy and First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty from 1938 to 1939.-Family:...

     1938–1939
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound
    Dudley Pound
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound GCB OM GCVO RN was a British naval officer who served as First Sea Lord, professional head of the Royal Navy from June 1939 to September 1943.- Early life :...

     1939–1943
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
    Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
    Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....

     1943–1946
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Cunningham 1946–1948
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Fraser of North Cape
    Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape
    Admiral of the Fleet Bruce Austin Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape GCB, KBE was a senior British admiral during World War II.-Early naval career:Fraser joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 January 1904...

     1948–1951
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor
    Rhoderick McGrigor
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick Robert McGrigor GCB was a Royal Navy officer and the British First Sea Lord from 1951 to 1955. During his years as professional head of the Royal Navy, he is most remembered as a leading proponent of carrier-based air power.-Early life:Rhoderick Robert McGrigor...

     1951–1955
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of Burma
    Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
    Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...

     1955–1959
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Lambe
    Charles Lambe
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Lambe GCB, CVO was a senior officer in the Royal Navy, serving as First Sea Lord from 1959 to 1960.-Naval career:...

     1959–1960
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John
    Caspar John
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John GCB was the British First Sea Lord from 1960 to 1963. He was pioneer in the Fleet Air Arm, and rose to become Vice-Chief of Naval Staff to Sea Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma in 1957 and subsequently First Sea Lord from 1960 to 1963.-Early...

     1960–1963
  • Admiral Sir David Luce
    David Luce
    Admiral Sir John David Luce GCB, DSO & Bar, OBE was First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy. He was the son of Admiral John Luce.-Naval career:David Luce joined the Royal Navy in 1919 and chose to become a submariner....

     1963–1966
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg
    Varyl Begg
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Cargill Begg GCB, DSO, DSC was First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy, from 1966 to 1968.-Early life:...

     1966–1968
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Le Fanu
    Michael Le Fanu
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Le Fanu GCB, DSC was a Royal Navy admiral and First Sea Lord.-Early life:Le Fanu was born at Lindfield, West Sussex, the son of Captain Hugh Barrington le Fanu RN...

     1968–1970
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Hill-Norton 1970–1971
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Pollock
    Michael Pollock
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Patrick Pollock GCB, LVO, DSC was a British officer in the Royal Navy who rose to become First Sea Lord from 1971 to 1974...

     1971–1974
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Ashmore
    Edward Ashmore
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Beckwith Ashmore GCB, DSC is a former senior Royal Navy officer. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces....

     1974–1977
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Lewin
    Terence Lewin, Baron Lewin
    Admiral of the Fleet Terence Thornton Lewin, Baron Lewin, KG, GCB, LVO, DSC was a former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, and Chief of the Defence Staff.-Naval career:...

     1977–1979
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach
    Henry Leach
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Conyers Leach, GCB, DL was a former First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy. Leach was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff between 1979 and 1982, being the professional head of the Navy at the time of the Falklands War...

     1979–1982
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Fieldhouse
    John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse
    Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse GCB, GBE was a high ranking officer in the Royal Navy...

     1982–1985
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Staveley 1985–1989
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald
    Julian Oswald
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Julian Robertson Oswald GCB was a British naval officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord.-Naval career:...

     1989–1993
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst 1993–1995
  • Admiral Sir Jock Slater 1995–1998
  • Admiral The Lord Boyce
    Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce
    Admiral Michael Cecil Boyce, Baron Boyce, KG, GCB, OBE, DL , is a cross bench member of the British House of Lords. Lord Boyce is a former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy and Chief of the Defence Staff. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa.-Naval career:Educated at Hurstpierpoint College, Boyce...

     1998–2001
  • Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh 2001–2002
  • Admiral The Lord West of Spithead
    Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
    Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...

     2002–2006
  • Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
    Jonathon Band
    Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...

     2006–2009
  • Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
    Mark Stanhope
    Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE is the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy.-Early life:...

     2009–incumbent

See also

  • Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
    Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
    The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...

  • Second Sea Lord
    Second Sea Lord
    The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...

  • Third Sea Lord
    Third Sea Lord
    The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was formerly the Naval Lord and member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy...

  • Fourth Sea Lord
    Fourth Sea Lord
    The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...

  • Fifth Sea Lord
    Fifth Sea Lord
    The Fifth Sea Lord was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty that controlled the Royal Navy.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords...

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