Office of the Treasurer of the Navy
Office of the Treasurer of the Navy
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Preceded by Treasurer of Marine Causes
Country United Kingdom
Founded 1524
Abolished 1835
Based at Navy Pay Office
Member of Navy Board
Role Head of Naval Finance
First post holder Sir William Gonson
Final post holder Sir Henry Parnell
Succeeded by Paymaster General

The Treasurer of the Navy originally called Treasurer of Marine Causes was a civilian officer of the Royal Navy responsible for all Naval Finance he administered the Navy Pay Office. He was a member of the Council of Marine then later the Navy Board but his office was autonomous of the Navy Office the post existed from 1524 to 1832.

1) History

Originally established in 1524 the first post holder was William Gonson he held the office for twenty years until 1544. He was a member of the Council of the Marine then later Navy Board, although a member of the board he gradually withdrew during the seventeenth century from the Board's day-to-day affairs and his office, and the Navy Pay Office, came to be regarded as entirely separate from the Navy Office, this was partly due to him being also accountable to the Treasury Office later called the Treasury Department headed by the Lord High Treasurer from whom he received funding. He was responsible for the direction and control of Naval Finance of the Royal Navy. The office was a political appointment, and frequently was held by up-and-coming young politicians who would later go on to hold more important positions. Before 1832 all accounts and finance were dealt with by a number of different offices and officials the Treasurer being one of them. Following reforms within the Department of Admiralty all existing financial departments and offices were centralized into the single Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy, though he survived the re-organisational changes of 1832 his office was abolished in 1835 and his duties were transferred to the Office of the Paymaster General.

2) Office Holders

2.1) Treasurers of Marine Causes (1524-1576)

  1. 1524–1544 Vice-Admiral, Sir William Gonson
  2. 1544–1545 John Wynter
  3. 1546–1549 Robert Legge
  4. 1549–1577 Benjamin Gonson

2.2) Treasurers of the Navy (1576–1835)

  1. 1577 Benjamin Gonson and John Hawkins
  2. 1577–1595 John Hawkins Knighted 26 July 1588
  3. 1598–1604 Fulk Greville [11]
  4. 1604–1618 Sir Robert Mansell
  5. 1618–1627 Sir William Russell created baronet 12 March 1627
  6. 1627–1630 Sackville Crowe created baronet 8 July 1627
  7. 1630–1639 Sir William Russell
  8. 1639-1642 Sir William Russell and Henry Vane
  9. 1642-1646 Sir William Russell and Sir John Penington (Royalist)
  10. 1646-1654 Sir William Russell (Royalist)
  11. 1645-1650 Sir Henry Vane (Parliamentary)
  12. 1651-1660 Richard Hutchinson (Parliamentary)
  13. 1660-1667 Sir George Carteret
  14. 1667-1668 Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
  15. 1668-1671 Sir Thomas Osborne and Sir Thomas de Littelton, Bt
  16. 1671-1673 Sir Thomas Osborne
  17. 1673-1681 Edward Seymour
  18. 1681-1689 Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland
  19. 1689-1699 Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
  20. 1699-1710 Sir Thomas de Littleton
  21. 1710-1711 Robert Walpole
  22. 1711-1714 Charles Caesar
  23. 1714-1718 John Aislabie
  24. 1718-1720 Richard Hampden
  25. 1720-1724 George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington
  26. 1724-1734 Pattee Byng, 2nd Viscount Torrington
  27. 1734-1742 Arthur Onslow
  28. 1742 Thomas Clutterbuck
  29. 1742-1743 Sir Charles Wager
  30. 1743-1744 Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet
  31. 1744-1749 George Bubb Dodington
  32. 1749-1754 Henry Legge
  33. 1754-1756 George Grenville
  34. 1756 George Bubb Dodington
  35. 1756-1762 George Grenville
  36. 1762-1765 William Wildman Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington
  37. 1765-1770 Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe
  38. 1770-1777 Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bt
  39. 1777-1782 Welbore Ellis
  40. 1782 Isaac Barré
  41. 1782-1783 Henry Dundas
  42. 1783-1784 Charles Townshend
  43. 1784-1800 Henry Dundas Except 1 January 1786 - 18 August 1802
  44. 1800-1801 Dudley Ryder
  45. 1801-1803 Charles Bragge
  46. 1803-1804 George Tierney
  47. 1804-1806 George Canning
  48. 1806-1807 Richard Brinsley Sheridan
  49. 1807-1818 George Rose
  50. 1818-1823 Frederick John Robinson
  51. 1823-1827 William Huskisson
  52. 1827-1828 Charles Grant
  53. 1828-1830 William Vesey Fitzgerald
  54. 1830 Thomas Frankland Lewis
  55. 1830-1834 Charles Poulett Thomson
  56. 1834-1835 William Lowther, Viscount Lowther
  57. 1835-1836 Sir Henry Parnell

3) Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer_of_the_Navy
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