Council of the Marine
Council of the Marine
Navy%20Board.gif
Type Council
Preceded by Offices of the Clerks of the Kings Marine
Country Kingdom of England
Founded 1545
Abolished 1576
Appointee the Monarch
Head Lieutenant of the Admiralty
Deputy head Treasurer of the Navy
Role Naval Administration
Succeeded by Navy Office

The Council of the Marine or Council of the Marine Causes formally called the King's Majesty's Council of His Marine was the organisation that was established on 24 April 1546 by King Henry VIII. It was responsible for the civil administration of the naval service from 1545 to 1576. when it was superseded by the Navy Office.

1) History

The origins of the Council of the Marine later Navy Office first began to appear in the 15th century when the Keeper of the Kings or Clerk of the Kings Ships in 1414 the predecessor, then later subordinate office, of the High Admiral of England (later Lord Admiral of England) was joined by a Keeper of the Kings Storehouses in 1514. As management of the English navy began to expand he was joined by a Clerk Comptroller of the Navy in 1522, followed by the Lieutenant of the Admiralty in 1544, then a Treasurer of Marine Causes in 1544 was added. A sixth officer was created, a Surveyor of the Navy, in 1544, and finally a seventh officer called Master of Naval Ordnance also in 1545 the group by January 1545 was already working as a body known as the Council of the Marine or King's Majesty's Council of His Marine. In the first quarter of 1545 an official memorandum was outlined that proposed the establishment of a new organisation that would formalize a structure for administering the navy that would have a clear chain of command for executing the office[8]. Following the previous proposals the Council of the Marine was officially appointed by letters patent by Henry VIII on the 24 April 1546 its members were known as the Chief Officers of the Admiralty. It was initially headed by the Lieutenant of the Admiralty until 1557. the council was charged with overseeing the administrative affairs of the Navy Royal (while directive, executive and operational duties of the Lord Admiral remained with the Admiralty Office. In 1557 the Lieutenant of the Admiralty ceased to direct the council that role was now given to the Treasurer of Marine Causes later known as the Senior Commissioner of the Navy Office. In 1578 the Council of the Marine was renamed the Navy Office whiich the earlier part of its history it remained independent until 1628 when it became a subsidiary body of the Board of Admiralty now reporting to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

2) King's Council of the Marine (1545-1576)

2.1) Chief Officers of the Admiralty

2.1.1) Lieutenant of the Admiralty

Main article: Lieutenant of the Admiralty

  1. Sir Thomas Clere, (1545-1552)
  2. Sir William Woodhouse, (1552-1556)

2.1.2) Treasurer of Marine Causes

Main article: Treasurer of Marine Causes

  1. Sir Robert Legge, (1545-1549)
  2. Benjamin Gonson, (1549-1547)
  3. Benjamin Gonson and Vice-Admiral, Sir John Hawkins, (1547-1577)
  4. Vice-Admiral, Sir John Hawkins, (1577-1595)

2.1.3) Clerk Comptroller of the Navy

Main article: Clerk Comptroller of the Navy

  1. William Broke, (1545-1561)
  2. Vice-Admiral, William Holstocke, (1561–1580)

2.1.4) Clerk of the Kings Ships

Main article: Clerk of the Kings Ships

  1. Richard Howlett, 24 April 1546- 10 October 1560.
  2. George Wynter, 10 October 1560 – 2 June 1567.
  3. John Hawkins, 2 June 1567, (appointed but did not succeed).
  4. George Wynter, 2 June 1567 – 24 March 1582.

2.1.5) Keeper of the Kings Storehouses

Main article: Keeper of the Kings Storehouses

  1. Richard Howlett, 1546-1548
  2. Vice-Admiral, William Holstocke, 1548-1560

2.1.6) Master of the Naval Ordnance

Main article: Master of Naval Ordnance

  1. Vice-Admiral Sir William Woodhouse, 1546-1552
  2. Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Wyndham, 1st Lord Felbrigg, 1552-1553
  3. Vice Admiral Sir William Wynter1557-1589 (also Surveyor and Rigger)

2.1.7) Surveyor and Rigger of the Navy

Main article: Surveyor and Rigger of the Navy

  1. Benjamin Gonson 24 April 1546
  2. Vice-Admiral, Sir Thomas Spert, 1524-1540
  3. Vice Admiral Sir William Wynter 1549-1589 (also Master of Naval Ordnance)

2.1.8) Surveyor of Marine Victuals

Main article: Surveyor of Marine Victuals

  1. Edward Baeshe, 1550-1587

3) Sources

  • Rodger, NAM. (2004) The safeguard of the sea: A naval history of Britain 660 to 1649, 'Council of the Marine' New York,: W.W. Norton, pp. ISBN 9780140297249
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