View source for Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty

The '''Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty''', before 1912 the '''Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty''', was the [[Royal Navy]] officer responsible to the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] who assisted the political head of the Navy on senior appointments.

==History==
Fisher described the Naval Secretary's position as "an ideal arrangement.  He has the power, he pulls the strings, he has no position, he causes no jealousy, he talks to all the Lords as their servant, and he manipulates them all and oils the machine for his special master, the First Lord, to perpetrate a job when necessary!"<ref>Fisher.  ''Memories''.  p. 170.</ref>

In 1902 the Private Secretary's salary was increased from £500 to £1,000 per annum.<ref>''Navy Estimates for the Year 1902-1903''.  p. 154.</ref>

==Secretaries==

<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Thomas Brandreth|nick=Thomas Brandreth|appt=9 March, 1867<ref>Sainty. ''Admiralty Officials, 1660-1870''. p. 66.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, First Baron Alcester|nick=Frederick B. P. Seymour|appt=22 December, 1868<ref>Sainty. ''Admiralty Officials, 1660-1870''. p. 66.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Chandos Scudamore Scudamore Stanhope|nick=Chandos S. S. Stanhope|appt=16 July, 1870<ref>Sainty. ''Admiralty Officials, 1660-1870''. p. 66.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=George Tryon|nick=George Tryon|appt=24 April, 1871<ref>Tryon Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/37/1308.}}</ref>|end=8 October, 1873<ref>Tryon Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/13/401.}}</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Michael Culme-Seymour, Third Baronet|nick=Michael Culme-Seymour|appt=6 March, 1874<ref>Culme-Seymour Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/16/324.}}</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|end=9 April, 1876<ref>Culme-Seymour Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/16/324.}}</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=William Codrington|nick=William Codrington|appt=10 April, 1876<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 7 April, 1876.  Issue '''28597''', col F, p. 5.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=James Elphinstone Erskine|nick=James E. Erskine|appt=5 June, 1880<ref>Erskine Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36/1194.}}</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=John Ommanney Hopkins|nick=John O. Hopkins|appt=21 June, 1881<ref>Hopkins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 652.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Lewis Anthony Beaumont|nick=Lewis A. Beaumont|appt=1 January, 1883<ref>Beaumont Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/36/226.|}} f. 88.</ref>|end=3 July, 1885<ref>Beaumont Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/36/226.|}} f. 88.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Walter Talbot Kerr|nick=The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr|appt=3 July, 1885<ref>Kerr Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 734.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Alfred Taylor Dale|nick=Alfred T. Dale|appt=15 November, 1889<ref>Dale Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 291.</ref>|end=15 September, 1892<ref>Dale Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/14.}}  f. 161.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Richard Horace Hamond|nick=Richard H. Hamond|appt=16 September, 1892<ref>Hamond Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 606?</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Hedworth Meux|nick=The Hon. Hedworth Lambton|appt=3 July, 1894<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref>|end=25 April, 1897<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 364.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|nick=Wilmot H. Fawkes|appt=26 April, 1897<ref>Fawkes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 449.</ref>|end=20 November, 1899<ref>Fawkes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 449.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Maurice Archibald Bourke|nick=The Hon. Maurice A. Bourke|appt=20 November, 1899<ref>Bourke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 132.</ref>|end=16 September, 1900<ref>Bourke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 132.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|note=died in this appointment}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|nick=Wilmot H. Fawkes|appt=15 November, 1900<ref>Fawkes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 449.</ref>|end=8 November, 1902<ref>Fawkes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/36.}}  f. 449.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Hugh Tyrwhitt|nick=The Hon. Hugh Tyrwhitt|appt=9 October, 1902<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 29 September, 1902.  Issue '''36885''', col B, p. 8.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Hugh Evan-Thomas|nick=Hugh Evan-Thomas|appt=1 October, 1905<ref>Evan-Thomas Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 105.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|end=14 December, 1908<ref>Evan-Thomas Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 105.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|nick=Charles E. Madden|appt=14 December, 1908<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|end=25 January, 1910<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge|nick=Ernest C. T. Troubridge|appt=25 January, 1910<ref>Troubridge Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 78.</ref>|as=Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|end=8 January, 1912<ref>Troubridge Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 78.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|nick=David Beatty|appt=8 January, 1912<ref>"Changes and Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 8 January, 1912.  Issue '''39789''', col B, p. 10.</ref>|end=9 January, 1913<ref>Beatty Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 156.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair|nick=Dudley R. S. de Chair|appt=9 January, 1913<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 10 January, 1913.  Issue '''40105''', col G, p. 11.</ref>|end=1 June, 1914<ref>De Chair Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 259.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|nick=The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood|appt=1 June, 1914<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 28 May, 1914.  Issue '''40535''', col B, p. 12.</ref><ref>Hood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 114.</ref>|end=13 October, 1914<ref>Hood Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 114.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Henry Francis Oliver|nick=Henry F. Oliver|appt=13 October, 1914<ref>Oliver Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 319.</ref>|end=5 November, 1914<ref>Oliver Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 319.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{Com1RN}}|name=Charles Martin-de-Bartolomé|nick=Charles Bartolomé|appt=5 November, 1914<ref>Martin-de-Bartolomé Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  f. 208.</ref>|end=16 December, 1916<ref>Bartolomé Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 208.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Allan Frederic Everett|nick=Allan F. Everett|appt=16 December, 1916<ref>Everett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 23.</ref>|end=26 October, 1918<ref>Everett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 23.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Rudolf Walter Bentinck|nick=Sir Rudolf W. Bentinck|appt=26 October, 1918<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 23 March, 1921.  Issue '''42676''', col D, p. 12.</ref>|end=3 May, 1921<ref>Bentinck Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 47.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Hugh Dudley Richards Watson|nick=Hugh D. R. Watson|appt=3 May, 1921<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 23 March, 1921.  Issue '''42676''', col D, p. 12.</ref><ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 272.</ref>|end=26 June, 1923<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 272.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Michael Henry Hodges|nick=Michael H. Hodges|appt=26 June, 1923<ref>Hodges Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 250.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Hubert George Brand|nick=The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand|appt=16 April, 1925<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 16 April, 1925.  Issue '''43937''', col E, p. 8.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Frank Larken|nick=Frank Larken|appt=29 April, 1925<ref>Larken Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/157.|}}  f. 193.</ref><ref>"Flag Appointment" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 1 May, 1925.  Issue '''43950''', col E, p. 16.</ref>|end=1 April, 1927<ref>Larken Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/157.|}}  f. 193.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Eric John Arthur Fullerton|nick=Eric J. A. Fullerton|appt=1 April, 1927<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 31 March, 1927.  Issue '''44544''', col E, p. 7.</ref>|end=1 October, 1929<ref>Fullerton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 518.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=George Knightley Chetwode|nick=George K. Chetwode|appt=1 October, 1929<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 16 September, 1929.  Issue '''45309''', col C, p. 7.</ref><ref>Chetwode Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}} f. 228.</ref>|end=15 January, 1932<ref>Chetwode Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}} f. 228.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Sidney Julius Meyrick|nick=Sidney J. Meyrick|appt=11 January, 1932<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 30 October, 1931.  Issue '''45967''', col E, p. 22.</ref>|end=17 September, 1934}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Guy Charles Cecil Royle|nick=Guy C. C. Royle|appt=17 September, 1934<ref>Royle Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50.}} f. 170.</ref><ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 17 September, 1934.  Issue '''46861''', col C, p. 17.</ref>|end=7 June, 1937<ref>Whitworth Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/232.|D7576669}} f. 224.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=William Jock Whitworth|nick=William J. Whitworth|appt=7 June, 1937<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 7 June, 1937.  Issue '''47704''', col E, p. 10.</ref><ref>Whitworth Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/232.|D7576669}} f. 224.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Stuart Sumner Bonham-Carter|nick=Stuart S. Bonham-Carter|appt=1 May, 1939<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 1 May, 1939.  Issue '''48293''', col C, p. 8.</ref>|end=27 September, 1939<ref>Bonham-Carter Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/52/81.|D7605168}} f. 441.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Edward Neville Syfret|nick=Edward N. Syfret|appt=1939|end=1941}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Arthur Malcolm Peters|nick=Arthur M. Peters|appt=1941|end=1942}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Frederick Hew George Dalrymple-Hamilton|nick=Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton|appt=|end=1944}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt|nick=Cecil H. J. Harcourt|appt=1944|end=1945}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Claud Barrington Barry|nick=Claud B. Barry|appt=1945|end=1946}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Maurice James Mansergh|nick=Maurice J. Mansergh|appt=8 April, 1946<ref>Mansergh Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/119/13.|}} f. 13.</ref>|end=26 April, 1948<ref>Mansergh Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/119/13.|}} f. 13.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Peveril Barton Reibey Wallop William-Powlett|nick=Peveril B. R. W. William-Powlett|appt=1948|end=1950}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=William Wellclose Davis|nick=William W. Davis|appt=1950|end=1952}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Richard George Onslow|nick=Richard G. Onslow|appt=1952|end=1954}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=John David Luce|nick=John D. Luce|appt=1954|end=1956|succBy=[[Robert Alastair Ewing]]}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*Hamilton, C. I. (2003).  "Expanding Naval Powers: Admiralty Private Secretaries and Private Offices, 1800-1945".  ''War in History'' '''10''' (2): pp. 125–156.
*{{UKNavalStaff}}
*Sainty, J. C. (1975).  ''Admiralty Officials, 1660-1870''.  London: The Athlone Press.  ISBN 0-485-17144-9.
{{refend}}

[[Category:Naval Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty|*]]
[[Category:Private Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty|*]]
[[Category:Pages with Offices]]