Comptroller of the Household

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the British royal household, nominally the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department after the Treasurer of the Household. The Comptroller was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of local government licensing in 2004. In recent times, a senior government whip has invariably occupied the office. On state occasions the Comptroller (in common with certain other senior officers of the Household) carries a white staff of office, as often seen in portraits.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

"Comptroller" is an alternative spelling of "controller", recorded since around 1500 in a number of British titles, and later also in the United States. The variant in spelling results from the influence of French compte "account".

History

File:Sir Edward Rogers from NPG.jpg

Sir Edward Rogers, 'Controller to Queen Elizabeth' in the 1560s, holding his white staff of office

The office of Comptroller of the Household derives from the medieval Household office of Controller of the Wardrobe, who was deputy to the Keeper (or Treasurer) of the Wardrobe, as well as an important official in his own right as keeper of the Privy Seal. Later, both these offices became high-ranking political appointments.

Modern role

In modern times, the Comptroller has become a less prominent position in British politics. The holder is the third-most senior Government whips in the House of Commons and is responsible for the day-to-day activity in the House.<ref name=Barwell /> Their responsibilities for the Royal Household are now largely ceremonial, such as serving as an usher at royal garden parties.<ref name=Barwell />

Known incumbents

15th century

1399–1400: Sir Robert Lytton<ref>LITTON, Sir Robert (d.c.1415), of Wennington, Essex History of Parliament</ref>
1402–1413: John Spencer<ref>SPENCER, John (d.1417), of Banham, Norf. and Burgate, Suff. History of Parliament</ref>
after 1413: Sir Robert Babthorpe<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
1432–c1450: Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley<ref>The history of the house of Stanley, etc p.41</ref>
1460: Thomas Charlton<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
1461–?1470: Sir John Scott
1471–1475: Sir William Parr<ref name="dnb">Template:Cite DNB</ref><ref name="household">The Household of Edward IV, Manchester University Press ND Google ebook</ref><ref name="note">The DNB gives Sir William Parr as Comptroller of the Household from 1471 to 1483; Household of Edward IV gives Parr's office dates as 1471–1475 and again in 1481–1483</ref>
1475–1481: Sir Robert Wingfield<ref name="household" />
1481–1483: Sir William Parr<ref name="dnb"/><ref name="household" /><ref name="note" />
1483–1485: Sir Robert Percy of Scotton<ref name="household" />
1485–1489: Sir Richard Edgecumbe<ref name="off">Green Cloth officeholders Template:Webarchive Institute of Historical Research</ref>
1489?–1492: Sir Roger Tocotes<ref name="off"/>
1492–1494: vacant
1494–1506: Sir Richard Guildford<ref name="off"/>

16th century

1507–1509: Sir John Hussey<ref name="off"/>
1509–1519: Sir Edward Poynings<ref name="off"/>
Sir Thomas Parr<ref name="dnb"/>
1519–1521: Sir Thomas Boleyn<ref name="off"/>
1521–1532: Sir Henry Guildford<ref name="off"/>
1532–1537: Sir William Paulet<ref name="off"/>
1537–1539: Sir John Russell<ref name="off"/>
1539–1540: Sir William Kingston<ref name="off"/>
1540–1547: Sir John Gage<ref name="off"/>
1547–1550: Sir William Paget<ref name="off"/>
1550–1552: Sir Richard Wingfield<ref name="off"/>
1552–1553: Sir Richard Cotton<ref name="off"/>
1553–1557: Sir Robert Rochester<ref name="off"/>
1557–1558: Sir Thomas Cornwallis<ref name="off"/>
1558–1559: Sir Thomas Parry<ref name="off"/>
1559–1568: Sir Edward Rogers<ref name="off"/>
1568: Anthony Crane<ref name="Kinney 73">Template:Cite book</ref>
1568–1570: vacant
1570–1590: Sir James Croft<ref name="off"/>
1590–1596: vacant
1596–1602: William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury<ref name="off"/><ref name="Kinney 73"/>

17th century

1602–1604: Sir Edward Wotton<ref name="Kinney 73"/>
c1604: William Pitt
1616–1618: Sir Thomas Edmonds<ref name="off"/><ref>J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86–87</ref>
1618–1622: Sir Henry Cary (so created 1620)<ref name="off"/>
1622–1627: Sir John Suckling<ref name="off"/>
1627–1629: Sir John Savile,<ref name="off"/> created a baron in 1628.
1629–1639: Henry Vane the Elder<ref name="off"/>
1639–1641: Sir Thomas Jermyn<ref name="off"/>
1641–1643: Sir Peter Wyche<ref name="off"/>
1643–1646: Christopher Hatton, 1st Baron Hatton<ref name="off"/>
1660–1662: Sir Charles Berkeley
1662–1666: Sir Hugh Pollard, 2nd Baronet
1666–1668: Sir Thomas Clifford
1668–1672: Francis Newport, 2nd Baron Newport
1672–1687: William Maynard, 2nd Baron Maynard
1687–1688: Henry Waldegrave, 1st Baron Waldegrave
1689–1702: Thomas Wharton, 5th Baron Wharton

Notes

Template:Reflist

External links

Comptroller Etymology OnLine
Database of Court Officers Loyola University Chicago
Whips from 1970 Template:Webarchive Political Science Resources

Template:British Monarchy Household

Comptroller of the Household

Contents

History

Modern role

Known incumbents

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Notes

External links

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Comptroller of the Household

History

Modern role

Known incumbents

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Notes

External links

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