View source for First Lord of the Treasury

{{Short description|Title granted to the UK Prime Minister}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = {{small|[[United Kingdom]]}}<br/>First Lord of the Treasury
| flag = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagcaption = [[Flag of the United Kingdom]]
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Governmental of arms of the United Kingdom|Governmental Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
| image = Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Official Portrait (cropped 2).jpg
| incumbent = [[Sir Keir Starmer]]
| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024
| reports_to = 
| residence = [[10 Downing Street]]
| seat = [[Westminster]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The King]]
| appointer_qualified = {{Longitem|appoints ''[[Ex officio member|ex officio]]'' the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]]}}
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation = {{Ubl
 |{{Longitem|1126{{block indent|em=1|(as [[Lord High Treasurer]])}}}}
 |{{Longitem|1612{{block indent|em=1|(as First Lord of the Commission of the Treasury)}}}}
 |{{Longitem|1714{{block indent|em=1|(commission permanent since resignation of the [[Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury|1st Duke of Shrewsbury]])}}}}
 }}
| first = {{Ubl
 |{{Longitem|[[Nigel (bishop of Ely)]]{{block indent|em=1|(as [[Lord High Treasurer]])}}}}
 |{{Longitem|[[Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton|1st Earl of Northampton]]{{block indent|em=1|(as First Lord of the Commission)}}}}
 |{{Longitem|[[Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax|1st Earl of Halifax]]{{block indent|em=1|(when the commission became permanent)}}}}
 }}
| salary = 
| deputy = [[Second Lord of the Treasury]]
| website = {{url|gov.uk/government/ministers/first-lord-of-the-treasury|Gov.uk}}
}}{{PoliticsUK}}
The '''First Lord of the Treasury''' is the head of the [[Lords Commissioners of the Treasury]] exercising the ancient office of [[Lord High Treasurer]] in the United Kingdom. Traditional convention holds that the office of First Lord is held by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]. [[10 Downing Street]] is technically the official home of the First Lord, although it is now entirely associated with the Prime Minister's office. The office is not the United Kingdom's [[finance minister]]; this role is instead held by the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], who is the ''Second'' Lord of the [[HM Treasury|Treasury]].

==Lords of the Treasury==
As of the beginning of the 17th century, the running of the Treasury was frequently entrusted to a commission, rather than to a single individual. Since 1714, it has permanently been in commission. The commissioners have always since that date been referred to as [[Lords Commissioners of the Treasury]], and adopted [[Ordinal number (linguistics)|ordinal numbers]] to describe their seniority. Eventually in the middle of the same century, the first lord of the Treasury came to be seen as the natural head of the overall ministry running the country, and, as of the time of [[Robert Walpole]] ([[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]), began to be known, unofficially, as the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]].

The term prime minister was initially, but decreasingly, used as a term of derogation; it was first used officially in a royal warrant only in 1905.{{Which|date=May 2020}} [[William Pitt the Younger]] said the prime minister "ought to be the person at the head of the finances"—though Pitt also served as [[chancellor of the exchequer]] for the entirety of his time as prime minister, so his linkage of the finance portfolio to the premiership was wider than merely proposing the occupation of the first lordship by the prime minister.{{sfn|Blick|Jones|2010}}

Prior to 1841 the first lord of the Treasury also held the office of chancellor of the exchequer unless he was a peer and thus barred from that office; in this case, the [[second lord of the Treasury]] usually served as chancellor. Since 1841, the chancellor has always been second lord of the Treasury when he was not also prime minister. By convention, the other Lords Commissioners of the Treasury are also Government [[Whip (politics)|Whips]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].

==Official residence==
{{Main|10 Downing Street}}
[[10 Downing Street]] is the official residence of the first lord of the Treasury, not the office of prime minister.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/first-lord-of-the-treasury|title=First Lord of the Treasury |publisher=gov.uk|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref> [[Chequers]], a [[English country house|country house]] in [[Buckinghamshire]], is the official country residence of the prime minister, used as a weekend and holiday home, although the residence has also been used by other senior members of government.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

==List of First Lords (1714–1922)==
{{For|earlier lord treasurers and first lords|List of lord high treasurers of England and Great Britain}}
Much of this list overlaps with the [[list of prime ministers of the United Kingdom]], but there are some notable differences, principally concerning {{Sortname|Lord|Salisbury}}, who was prime minister but not first lord in 1885–1886, 1887–1892 and 1895–1902.

Those first lords who were simultaneously prime minister are indicated in '''bold'''.

Those who were considered prime minister only during ''part'' of their term are indicated in '''''bold italic'''''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! First Lord
! Entered office
! Left office
! colspan=2 | Party

|-
| {{Sortname|Charles|Montagu, Earl of Halifax|Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax}}
| 13 October 1714
| 19 May 1715
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|Charles|Howard, Earl of Carlisle|Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle}}
| 23 May 1715
| 10 October 1715
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|Robert|Walpole}}
| 10 October 1715
| 12 April 1717
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|James|Stanhope, Earl Stanhope|James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope}}
| 12 April 1717
| 21 March 1718
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|Charles|Spencer, Earl of Sunderland|Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland}}
| 21 March 1718
| 3 April 1721
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Robert|Walpole}}'''
| 3 April 1721
| 11 February 1742
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Spencer|Compton, Earl of Wilmington|Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington}}'''
| 16 February 1742
| 2 July 1743
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry|Pelham}}'''
| 27 August 1743
| 10 February 1746
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|William|Pulteney, Earl of Bath|William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath}}
| 10 February 1746
| 12 February 1746
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry|Pelham}}'''
| 12 February 1746
| 6 March 1754
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Thomas|Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle|Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle}}'''
| 16 March 1754
| 16 November 1756
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire|William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire}}'''
| 16 November 1756
| 8 June 1757
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| {{Sortname|James|Waldegrave, Earl Waldegrave|James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave}}
| 8 June 1757
| 12 June 1757
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire|William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire}}'''
| 12 June 1757
| 25 June 1757
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Thomas|Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle|Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle}}'''
| 2 July 1757
| 26 May 1762
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|John|Stuart, Earl of Bute|John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute}}'''
| 26 May 1762
| 16 April 1763
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|George|Grenville}}'''
| 16 April 1763
| 13 July 1765
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Charles|Watson-Wentworth, Marquess of Rockingham|Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham}}'''
| 13 July 1765
| 30 July 1766
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''''{{Sortname|Augustus|FitzRoy, Duke of Grafton|Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton}}{{Efn|Grafton became Prime Minister on 14 October 1768.}}'''''
| 30 July 1766
| 28 January 1770
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Frederick|North, Lord North|Frederick North, Lord North}}'''
| 28 January 1770
| 22 March 1782
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Charles|Watson-Wentworth, Marquess of Rockingham|Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham}}'''
| 27 March 1782
| 1 July 1782
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Petty, Earl of Shelburne|William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne}}'''
| 4 July 1782
| 2 April 1783
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of Portland|William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland}}'''
| 2 April 1783
| 19 December 1783
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Pitt the Younger}}'''
| 19 December 1783
| 14 March 1801
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry|Addington}}'''
| 17 March 1801
| 10 May 1804
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Pitt the Younger}}'''
| 10 May 1804
| 23 January 1806
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Grenville, Lord Grenville|William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville}}'''
| 11 February 1806
| 31 March 1807
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of Portland|William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland}}'''
| 31 March 1807
| 4 October 1809
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Spencer|Perceval}}'''
| 4 October 1809
| 11 May 1812
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Robert|Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool|Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool}}'''
| 9 June 1812
| 10 April 1827
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|George|Canning}}'''
| 10 April 1827
| 8 August 1827
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|F. J.|Robinson, Viscount Goderich|F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich}}'''
| 31 August 1827
| 22 January 1828
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Arthur|Wellesley, Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington}}'''
| 22 January 1828
| 22 November 1830
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Charles|Grey, Earl Grey|Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey}}'''
| 22 November 1830
| 16 July 1834
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Lamb, Viscount Melbourne|William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne}}'''
| 16 July 1834
| 14 November 1834
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Arthur|Wellesley, Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington}}'''
| 14 November 1834
| 10 December 1834
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Robert|Peel}}'''
| 10 December 1834
| 8 April 1835
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William|Lamb, Viscount Melbourne|William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne}}'''
| 18 April 1835
| 30 August 1841
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Robert|Peel}}'''
| 30 August 1841
| 29 June 1846
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Lord John|Russell|John Russell, 1st Earl Russell}}'''
| 30 June 1846
| 23 February 1852
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Edward|Smith-Stanley, Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby}}'''
| 23 February 1852
| 19 December 1852
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|George|Hamilton-Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen|George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen}}'''
| 19 December 1852
| 6 February 1855
! style="background-color: {{party color|Peelite}}" |
| [[Peelite]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry John|Temple, Viscount Palmerston|Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston}}'''
| 6 February 1855
| 20 February 1858
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Edward|Smith-Stanley, Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby}}'''
| 20 February 1858
| 12 June 1859
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry John|Temple, Viscount Palmerston|Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston}}'''
| 12 June 1859
| 18 October 1865
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|John|Russell, Earl Russell|John Russell, 1st Earl Russell}}'''
| 29 October 1865
| 28 June 1866
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Edward|Smith-Stanley, Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby}}'''
| 28 June 1866
| 27 February 1868
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Benjamin|Disraeli}}'''
| 27 February 1868
| 3 December 1868
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William Ewart|Gladstone}}'''
| 3 December 1868
| 20 February 1874
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Benjamin|Disraeli}}{{Efn|Disraeli became [[Earl of Beaconsfield]] in 1876.}}'''
| 20 February 1874
| 23 April 1880
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William Ewart|Gladstone}}'''
| 23 April 1880
| 23 June 1885
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| {{Sortname|Stafford|Northcote, Earl of Iddesleigh|Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh}}
| 29 June 1885
| 1 February 1886
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William Ewart|Gladstone}}'''
| 1 February 1886
| 25 July 1886
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Robert|Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury}}{{Efn|Salisbury continued to serve as Prime Minister until 11 August 1892.}}'''
| 3 August 1886
| 14 January 1887
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| {{Sortname|William Henry|Smith|William Henry Smith (1825–1891)}}
| 14 January 1887
| 6 October 1891
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| {{Sortname|Arthur|Balfour}}
| 6 October 1891
| 15 August 1892
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|William Ewart|Gladstone}}'''
| 15 August 1892
| 5 March 1894
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Archibald|Primrose, Earl of Rosebery|Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery}}'''
| 5 March 1894
| 25 June 1895
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''''{{Sortname|Arthur|Balfour}}{{Efn|Balfour became Prime Minister on 11 July 1902.}}'''''
| 25 June 1895
| 5 December 1905
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|Henry|Campbell-Bannerman}}'''
| 5 December 1905
| 3 April 1908
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|H. H.|Asquith}}'''
| 8 April 1908
| 5 December 1916
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
| '''{{Sortname|David|Lloyd George}}'''
| 6 December 1916
| 19 October 1922
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|}
Thereafter the posts of first lord and prime minister have continually been held by the same person {{xref|(see {{slink|List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom#20th century}})}}.

==See also==
[[File:Number 10 front door (7500511890).jpg|thumb|The front door of 10 Downing Street, showing the letter-box inscribed with "First Lord of the Treasury"]]
* [[Chief Baron of the Exchequer]]
* [[List of lords commissioners of the Treasury]]
* [[Minister for the Civil Service]], by convention also the Prime Minister
* [[Secretary to the Treasury]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Source===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |url=http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/the-power-of-the-prime-minister|title=The power of the Prime Minister|first1=Andrew|last1=Blick|first2=George|last2=Jones|date=7 June 2010|journal=History & Policy|access-date=7 April 2020|location=United Kingdom}}

== Further reading ==
* {{citation |last=Haydn |first=Joseph Timothy |author-link=Joseph Timothy Haydn |title=The Book of Dignities |year=1890 |location=London |publisher=W. H. Allen and Co. |ol=13505280M |ol-access=free}}
* {{citation |editor-last=Pryde|editor-first=E. B.|editor-last2=Greenway|editor-first2=D. E.|editor-last3=Porter|editor-first3=S.|editor-last4=Roy|editor-first4=I.|title=Handbook of British Chronology|edition=3rd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcgxEvGAK_kC&pg=PP1|date=23 February 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-56350-5}}
{{refend}}

{{Downing Street}}
{{HM Treasury}}
{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:First Lord of the Treasury}}
[[Category:First Lords of the Treasury| ]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom|Treasury]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British Prime Minister's Office]]
[[Category:1714 establishments in Great Britain]]