Black Rod

The ceremonial rod used by the Black Rod of New Zealand

The Gentleman or Lady Usher of the Black Rod, often shortened to Black Rod, is a senior parliamentary officer similar to a serjeant-at-arms, responsible for ceremonial protocol and maintaining order within a legislative chamber. The role originated in the House of Lords of the Parliament of England during the 14th century and was exported to the upper houses of other Westminster system legislatures. Besides the British House of Lords, the office now exists in Australia's federal and state upper houses, in Canada's federal upper house and some unicameral provincial houses, and for ceremonial purposes in New Zealand and the Cook Islands. The position is named after the staff of office carried by the official, a black rod. The Gentleman/Lady Usher often has a deputy called the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod.

Origin

The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they adopted the British Westminster system. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.

A ceremonial rod or staff is a common symbol indicating the authority of the office holder. Depictions of ancient authority figures in many cultures include such a rod (alternatively called a sceptre). Another early example is the fasces (a bound bundle of rods) carried by guards ("lictors") who accompanied high-level officials in the Roman Republic and later Empire.

By country

Ushers of the Black Rod are typically responsible for arresting any senator or intruder who disrupts the proceedings.

United Kingdom

Appointment

Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments (who is the employer of all House of Lords officials).Template:Cn As well as being an officer of the House of Lords, Black Rod is an officer of the Order of the Garter; he (or she) is appointed by letters patent under the Garter Seal.<ref name="ErskineMay">Template:Cite web</ref> Black Rod also acts as Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain by virtue of which he or she oversees certain ceremonial arrangements and day-to-day management of the Royal parts of the Palace of Westminster. Black Rod also holds the office of Serjeant-at-Arms, to which he or she is separately appointed by letters patent under the Great Seal; it is in this capacity that Black Rod attends upon the Lord Speaker.<ref name="ErskineMay" />

Black Rod's deputy is the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since 8 July 2025, the post of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod has been held by Lieutenant General Edward Davis;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he is the first Royal Marine to hold the post.

Official duties

Black Rod is principally responsible for controlling access to and maintaining order within the House of Lords and its precincts,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> as well as for ceremonial events within those precincts. Previous responsibilities for security, and the buildings and services of the Palace of Westminster, have been passed, respectively, to the Parliamentary Security Director (as of the post's creation in January 2016) and Lords Director of Facilities (as of that post's creation and the retirement of the then-Black Rod in May 2009).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Black Rod's official duties also include responsibility as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and as the Serjeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House, in charge of the admission of strangers to the House of Lords. Either Black Rod or their deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament, is in session, and plays a role in the introduction of all new Lords Temporal in the House (but not of bishops as new Lords Spiritual). Black Rod also arrests any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. Their equivalent in the House of Commons is the Serjeant at Arms.

Former Black Rod David Leakey said that 30% of his work as Black Rod was within or for the House of Commons.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Black Rod, along with their deputy, is responsible for organising ceremonial events within the Palace of Westminster, providing leadership in guiding the significant logistics of running such events.

Ceremonial duties

Mace

Black Rod is in theory responsible for carrying the Mace into and out of the chamber for the Speaker of the House of Lords (formerly the Lord Chancellor, now the Lord Speaker), though this role is delegated to the Yeoman Usher and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, or on judicial occasions, to the Lord Speaker's deputy, the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms.Template:Cn

State Opening of Parliament

Sarah Clarke, Lady Usher of the Black Rod, knocks on the door to the House of Commons at the 2024 State Opening.

Black Rod is best known for their part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Speech from the throne. Black Rod summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons are slammed in the approaching Black Rod's face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with their staff, and is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend.<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref>

This ritual also happens whenever the Lords have a commission to be read and Black Rod summons MPs to hear it. For example, on Tuesday 17 December 2019 this ritual happened twice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I to arrest Five Members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of the constitution. This and prior actions of the King led to the Civil War. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representatives to enter their chamber, although they cannot bar them from entering with lawful authority.

List of Black Rods in England, Great Britain and the UK from 1361

This list is derived from one published by the Parliamentary Archives in 2011, with alterations from later research.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Col div

• 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
• 1495–30 December 1511: Hugh Denys (jointly with Assheton until Denys's death)<ref name="Sainty14">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• 1513–1526: Sir William Compton
• 1526–1536: Henry Norreys
• 1536–1543: Anthony Knyvett
• 1543–1554: Sir Philip Hoby
• 1554–1565: John Norreys
• 1554–1591: Sir William Norreys (joint)
• 1591–1593: Anthony Wingfield (d. 1593)
• 1593–1598: Simon Bowyer
• 1598–1620: Richard Coningsby
• 1605–1620: George Pollard (joint)
• 1620–1642: James Maxwell<ref name="Sainty18">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• 1642–1649: Alexander Thayne (as recognised by Parliament); jointly with James Maxwell until c. 1646. The Lords was abolished in 1649 and Thayne made a claim to the title at the Restoration in 1661, but was denied.<ref name="Sainty18"/>
• 2 March 1645 – 1661: Peter Newton (as recognised by the Royalists; Edward Ellis discharged the duties in 1642 and Newton in 1644, but neither seems to have been formally appointed at the time.<ref name="Sainty18"/>)
• 1671–1675: Sir John Ayton<ref name="ph-notes">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• 1671–1683: Sir Edward Carteret<ref name="ph-notes"/>
• 1683–25 April 1694: Sir Thomas Duppa<ref name="ph-notes"/>
• 1694–25 August 1698: Sir Fleetwood Sheppard
• 5 December 1698 – 1 June 1710: Admiral Sir David Mitchell
• 1710–1718: Sir William Oldes
• 1718–1727: Sir William Sanderson, 1st Baronet
• 1727–1747: Sir Charles Dalton
• 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
• 3 May 1877 – 23 June 1883: General Sir William Knollys
• 24 July 1883 – 7 October 1895: Admiral Sir James Drummond
• 16 December 1895<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – 23 July 1901:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> General Sir Michael Biddulph
• August 1904 – 16 December 1919: Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson
• January 1920 – 14 May 1941: Lieutenant-General Sir William Pulteney
• October 1941 – 15 August 1944: Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell
• January 1945 – 18 January 1949: Sir Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Blake
• 18 January 1949 – 18 June 1963: Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks
• 18 June 1963 – October 1970: Air Chief Marshal Sir George Mills
• October 1970 – 18 January 1978: Admiral Sir Frank Twiss
• 10 January 1978 – January 1985: Lieutenant-General Sir David House<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
• January 1985 – January 1992: Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell
• January 1992 – 8 May 1995: Admiral Sir Richard Thomas
• 9 May 1995 – 8 May 2001: General Sir Edward Jones
• 9 May 2001 – 30 April 2009: Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks
• 30 April 2009 – 28 October 2010: Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Viggers
• 21 December 2010 – 21 December 2017: Lieutenant-General David Leakey<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 12 February 2018 – 8 July 2025: Sarah Clarke<ref name=clarkestarts>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 8 July 2025 – present: Lieutenant-General Edward Davis<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

List of Serjeants-at-Arms of the House of Lords

Technically the serjeant-at-arms was an officer of the Lord Chancellor (the former presiding officer of the House of Lords), rather than of the House of Lords.<ref name="Wilding1968">Template:Cite book</ref> He was appointed by the Sovereign "to be Serjeant-at-Arms in Ordinary to Her [or His] Majesty" and "to attend the Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper or Lord Commissioner for the Great Seal of the Realm for the time being".<ref name="Twiss1971" /> He was appointed for life until 1713 and during good behaviour thereafter, originally receiving a daily remuneration and from 1806 an annual salary. The post was merged with that of Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod in 1962,<ref name="Wilding1968" /> and with that of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in 1971.

The following is a list of Serjeants-at-Arms to the Lord Chancellor since 1660: Template:Col div

• 1660: Humphrey Leigh
• 1668: Edward Wood (in Extraordinary; did not succeed to the reversion)
• 1671: Sir George Charnock (in Extraordinary)
• 1673: Sir George Charnock (in Ordinary) jointly with Roger Charnock<ref name=BHF>Chris Cook and John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1688–1760 (1988) p. 97.</ref>
• 1697: Peter Persehouse<ref name=BHF/>
• 1713: Sarles Goatley<ref name=BHF/>
• 1713: Charles Stone<ref name=BHF/>
• 1716: Francis Jephson
• 1745: Richard Jephson<ref name=BHF/><ref name=BHF2>Chris Cook and John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760–1830 (1980) p. 50.</ref>
• 1789: William Watson<ref name=BHF/><ref name=BHF2/>
• 1818: George Francis Seymour<ref name=BHF2/><ref name=BHF3>Chris Cook and Brendan Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900 (1975) p. 104.</ref>
• 1841: Alexander Perceval<ref name=BHF2/><ref name=BHF3/>
• 1858: Colonel Sir Wellington Patrick Manvers Chetwynd Talbot<ref name=BHF3/>
• 1899: Major-General Sir Arthur Edward Augustus Ellis<ref name=BHF3/>
• 1901: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Fleetwood Isham Edwards<ref name=BHF3/>
• 1910: Major-General Sir Stanley de Astel Clarke
• 5 November 1910: Captain Sir Seymour John Fortescue<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
• 1 February 1936: Major-General Sir Charles Edward Corkran<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
• 17 March 1939: Admiral Sir Herbert Meade-Fetherstonhaugh<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
• 2 December 1946: Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul Copeland Maltby<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
• 17 March 1962: Captain Sir Kenneth Lachlan Mackintosh<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>Template:Efn
• 1 January 1971: Admiral Sir Frank Twiss<ref name=Twiss1971>Template:London Gazette</ref>Template:Efn

Since 1971 the office of Serjeant at Arms has been held by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. Template:Col div end

Devolved assemblies

The Parliament of Northern Ireland was created in 1921, suspended in 1972, and abolished in 1973. The Senate of Northern Ireland, its upper house, had a Black Rod throughout its existence,<ref name="Bond1976p20">Bond 1976 p. 20</ref><ref name="Morton1980">Template:Cite book</ref> who carried messages from the Senate to the House of Commons, and at the annual opening of Parliament summoned MPs and Senators to the foot of the "Imperial Staircase" in Parliament Buildings from where the Governor of Northern Ireland made the speech.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in attendance on the Senate of Northern Ireland" was also appointed "Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms in attendance on the House of Commons of Northern Ireland", and likewise the Commons Sergeant-at-Arms was Deputy Black Rod. Black Rod's wand, uniform, and sword are now part of the collection of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The wand is an ebony staff, Template:Convert long, with silver gilt mounts dated London 1923. It was in storage in 2007,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on display in the First Ministers office in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first Black Rod was Sir Frederick Moneypenny,<ref name="belfasttelegraph2021">Template:Cite news</ref> the Belfast City Chamberlain and Private Secretary to the the Lord Mayor,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> who served on a provisional basis and took no salary.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Later holders of the office were Major Thomas Dalby Hutcheson Hackett (1921–1954),<ref>Template:Cite book </ref><ref name="senhansard1954">Template:Cite book</ref> Brigadier John Young Calwell (1954–1968),<ref name="senhansard1954"/><ref>Template:Belfast Gazette</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Captain (RN) J. C. Cartwright (1969–1972).<ref>Template:Multiref</ref>

The white paper leading to the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly said it "should be modern in character and the pomp of English historical features such as Black Rod, Sergeants at Arms, etc., should be abandoned".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Subsequent devolved legislatures (the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament, and Welsh Senedd) have been unicameral and none has a Black Rod.

Australia

The Australian Senate and the upper houses in five Australian states and territories have their own Usher of the Black Rod. (Queensland abolished its upper house, and the assemblies of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have always been unicameral.)

The current Usher of the Black Rod for the Australian Senate is John Begley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Australian Senate, the Usher of the Black Rod assists with the administration and security of the Senate and has the power to take anyone into custody who causes a disturbance in or near the Senate chamber.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Canada

Kevin MacLeod, the former Canadian Usher of the Black Rod, stands in front of the 1878 Senate thrones

The Usher of the Black Rod for the Senate of Canada is the equivalent to the Black Rod office for the House of Lords. The position was also known as the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod until 1997, when the appointment of the first female Black Rod prompted the word gentleman to be dropped from the title.

The provincial legislatures of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island have also incorporated the position of the Black Rods into their respective parliamentary systems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cook Islands

In the Cook Islands the Usher of the Black Rod is the messenger of the King's Representative at the ceremonial opening of parliament.

In 2023, the Cook Islands adopted a black rod (Template:Langx) carved from Template:Lang wood salvaged from the gallery of the Ziona Tapu Church in Avarua. The black rod was designed by Tangata Vainerere, the clerk of the Cook Islands parliament, and carved by Wireless Tomokino. The piece of wood it was carved from is thought to be over 160 years old.<ref>Template:Cite AV media </ref> It was first used at the ceremonial opening of the 18th parliament on 22 March 2023.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Ireland

In the Kingdom of Ireland, the Parliament of Ireland was modelled on the English Parliament and there was a Black Rod for the Irish House of Lords, mentioned in the first extant journals from 1634.<ref name="Bond1976p20"/> The Irish Black Rod became Usher of the Order of St Patrick upon its establishment in 1783. The Acts of Union 1800, in uniting Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, abolished the Irish Parliament and its House of Lords, but the Order of St Patrick continued, and so did the office of Black Rod/Usher. With the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the Order of St Patrick fall into disuse and no Black Rod was appointed thereafter.

• 1645: Stephen Smith, Esq.<ref>Journal of the Irish House of Lords v.1 p.227</ref>
• 1662, 1666: Robert Hall, Esq.<ref>Journal of the Irish House of Lords v.1 pp. 362, 442</ref>
• 1692: Thomas Carter, Esq.<ref>Journal of the Irish House of Lords v.1 p.448</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1696: William Berrow, Esq.<ref>Journal of the Irish House of Lords v.1 p.588</ref>
• 1697: Andrew Loyd, Esq.<ref>Journal of the Irish House of Lords v.1 p.596</ref>
• 1707: Andrew Fountaine
• c.1708–1709: Thomas Ellys<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1711–17??: Brinsley Butler, 1st Viscount Lanesborough<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (died 1735)
• 1745–17??: Robert LangrisheTemplate:Citation needed
• 1745–1747: Solomon Dayrolles
• 1747–17??: William FitzWilliam<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• 1757: James Gisborne
• 1761–1763: George Montagu<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1763–1765: Sir Archibald Edmonstone<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1772?: Robert Weston
• 1780–1781: Sir John Lees
• 1783: Sir John Freemantle<ref name="ReferenceA">The Most Illustrious Order by Peter Galloway; Template:ISBN</ref>
• 1783–1784: Sir Willoughby Ashton<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• 1784–1790: Colonel Andrew Barnard<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• 1787–1789: Scrope Morland<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1790–1796: Henry Fane<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1796–1799: Nicholas Price<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1799–1806: Thomas Linsay<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1806–1835: Sir Charles Hawley Vernon<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1835–1838: Major Sir Francis Charles Stanhope<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1838–1841: Sir William Edward Leeson<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1841–1858: Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Morris<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1858–1878: Sir George Burdett L'Estrange<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1879–1913: Colonel James Caulfeild, 7th Viscount Charlemont<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1915–1917: Sir John Olphert<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
• 1918–1933: Sir Samuel Murray Power<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

New Zealand

Usher of the Black Rod Sandra McKie at the State Opening of the New Zealand Parliament in 2023

In New Zealand, where the Legislative Council was abolished in 1951, the Usher of the Black Rod continues to summon MPs to the chamber for the Throne Speech.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is not a full-time position.

Arthur Bothamley was the first person to hold the role;<ref name="Bryan retirement">Template:Cite news</ref> he was usher of the black rod for 45 years from 1892 until August 1937. In September 1937, he was succeeded by Captain Douglas Bryan, who retired in June 1957.<ref name="Bryan retirement" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> John Everitt Seal took over from Bryan in June 1957<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and held the role until his death on 1 November 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alexander John Mackay Manson was appointed in May 1965 to succeed Seal in time for the opening of the second term of the 34th New Zealand Parliament later that month.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Manson retired in June 1971.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 1972, Melville Harvey Scott Innes-Jones was appointed to succeed Manson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Innes-Jones retired in 1991.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

William Nathan, appointed in 1993,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was the first Māori Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Colonel Nathan retired in 2005,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was followed by David Baguley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> David Williams was appointed as the acting Usher of the Black Rod in 2017 for the opening of the 52nd New Zealand Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sandra McKie was appointed to act in the role in 2020 for the opening of the 53rd Parliament, the first woman to hold the position.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> McKie was permanently appointed to the role effective from 17 October 2022, following the formal retirement of Baguley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The ceremonial black rod was presented to Parliament by Governor-General Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe in January, 1931. Made of polished black ebony, it is topped by a golden lion rampant holding a shield bearing the royal cypher of King George V and has a 1931 gold sovereign set in its base. Due to the fragility of the original 1931 black rod, a regular black baton acting as a black rod is now used during the official openings of Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• 
  The ceremonial black rod of New Zealand in a case
• 
  Detail of the top of the ceremonial black rod
• 
  Inscription on the base of the ceremonial black rod

South Africa

The Senate of South Africa had a Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from its inception in 1910 to abolition in 1980. When the Senate was restored in 1994 the renamed position of Usher of the Black Rod returned with it, continuing in the new National Council of Provinces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Related ushers

Before the Acts of Union 1707 united the English and Scottish parliaments, there was a Heritable Usher of the White Rod who had a similar role in the Estates of Parliament in Scotland.<ref>Facts about Edinburgh. The Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library Family Tree</ref> This office is currently held by John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, but the role carries no duties.

Gentleman ushers exist for all the British orders of chivalry, and are coloured as follows:

• The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod – Most Noble Order of the Garter
• The Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod – Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
• The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod – Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• The Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod – Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
• The Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod – Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Sources

• Template:Cite book

External links

• The records of Black Rod's Department are held by the UK Parliamentary Archives
• The British Parliament's information about the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
• The Canadian Parliament's information about Black Rod
• The Australian Parliamentary Education Office's information about the Usher of the Black Rod