Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence

The Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence originally called Counsel to the Navy Board [1] was an appointed legal adviser to the Royal Navy from 1673 to 1995.

Office of the Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Navy Board (1673-1696)
Admiralty and Marine Affairs Office (1696-1707)
Department of the Admiralty (1707-1964)
Ministry of Defence (Navy Department) (1964-1995)
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–5 years)
Inaugural holderR Wright
Formation1673-1995

History

The office was originally established in 1673 when the post holder was assigned to the Navy Board only. In 1696 the office holders duties were expanded and he was authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Admiralty as well. The office was abolished in 1679, as a result of cost saving measures being undertaken in regard to cutting excessive naval expenditures. In 1696 the office was reestablished and in 1824 it was merged with the office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet. In 1832 the Navy Board was abolished and its previous functions were absorbed into the Admiralty the office holders title then changed to Counsel to the Admiralty until 1964 when the Department of Admiralty was absorbed into the Ministry of Defence where it became the Navy Department until 2008.[2][3][4]

From 1824 the individual appointed held both offices and titles of Judge Advocate of the Fleet and Counsel concurrently until 1995 when it was abolished.[1] The office holder superintended the Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty.[5]

Counsel to the Navy Board

Included:[1]

  1. 1673-1686, R Wright
  2. 1685-1686, C. Porter
  3. 1686-1696, W. Killingworth

Counsel for the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy

Included:[1]

  1. 1696-1702, T. Lechmere
  2. 1703-1708, W. Ettrick
  3. 1708-1709 C. Phipps
  4. 1709-1711, G. Townsend
  5. 1711-1715, W. G. Ettrick
  6. 1715-1726, G. Townsend
  7. 1726-1737, J, Baynes
  8. 1737-1742, J. Hunter
  9. 1742-1742, C. Clarke
  10. 1743-1747, Hon. H. Legge
  11. 1747-1757, S. Jervis
  12. 1757-1770, R. Hussey
  13. 1770-1791, F. Cust
  14. 1791-1795 Hon. T. Brodrick
  15. 1795-1801, H. S. Perceval
  16. 1801-1824, Thomas Jervis
  17. 1824-1828, H. Twiss
  18. 1828-1832, H. J. Shepherd

Counsel to the Admiralty

Note: The office holder in some editions of the official British navy list is styled as Counsel to the Naval Department.[5]

  1. 1832-1845, H. J. Shepherd [1]
  2. 1845-1849, R. Godson [1]
  3. 1849-1854, Richard Budden Crowder [1]
  4. 1854-1855, Thomas Phinn [1]
  5. 1855-1859, William Atherton [1]
  6. 1859-1863, Robert Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell [1]
  7. 1863-1866, Thomas Phinn [1]
  8. 1866-1875, John Walter Huddleston [1]
  9. 1875–1904, Alexander Staveley Hill [6]
  10. 1904–1924, Reginald Brodie Dyke Acland [7]
  11. 1924-1933, Charles Murray Pitman[8]
  12. 1933-1943, J G Trapnell
  13. 1943-1945, J Lhind Pratt
  14. 1945-1964, Ewen Montagu

Counsel to the Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)
  1. 1964-1972, Ewen Montagu
  2. 1973-1986, William Howard
  3. 1986-1994, Felix Waley
  4. 1995 J L Sessions

Offices under this office
  1. Solicitor to the Admiralty

References
  1. Sainty, J.C. (1975). Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870. London: University of London. p. 78.
  2. "Supplement to the London Gazette: Ministry of Defence ( Navy Department)" (PDF). www.thegazette.co.uk. The London Gazeete. 1 January 1975. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. "Supplement to the London Gazette: Ministry of Defence (Navy Department)" (PDF). The London Gazette. 31 December 1985. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. "Supplement to the London Gazette: Ministry of Defence (Navy Department)" (PDF). www.thegazette.co.uk. The London Gazette. 11 June 1994. p. B2. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. "Judicial Department:Counsel and Solicitor to the Naval Department". The Navy List. London, England: John Murray. December 1859. p. 209.
  6. Debrett, John (1901). Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage. London: Dean & Son Ltd. p. 361.
  7. Debrett, John (1922). Arthur G. M. Hesilrige (ed.). Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage. London: Dean & Son Ltd. p. 375.
  8. Mr. C. M. Pitman, K.C. The Times (London, England), Friday, Oct 15, 1948; pg. 7; Issue 51203. (471 words)

Sources
  1. Counsel 1673-1870', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870, ed. J C Sainty (London, 1975), p. 78. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol4/p78 [accessed 8 January 2019].
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