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First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
Ensign of the British Armed Forces
White Ensign of the Royal Navy
Incumbent Admiral Sir Ben Key since 8 November 2021
Ministry of Defence Royal Navy
Type	Naval officer
Status	Military branch chief
Abbreviation	1SL/CNS
Member of	Defence Council Admiralty Board Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Staff
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	The Monarch On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed typically 3–4 years
Formation	Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) First Naval Lord (1771–1904) First Sea Lord (from 1904)
First holder	Admiral Arthur Herbert (as Senior Naval Lord) Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (as First Sea Lord)
Deputy	Deputy First Sea Lord (1917-1919, 1942-1946) Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1946) Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
Website	Official Website

The First Sea Lord, officially known as the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) is a statutory position in the British Armed Forces, usually held by an admiral. As the highest-ranking officer to serve in the Royal Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on matters pertaining to the navy and a deputy to the Secretary of State for Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council, the prime minister and the monarch. The First Sea Lord is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Royal Navy unless the Chief of the Defence Staff is a naval officer. Admiral Ben Key was appointed First Sea Lord in November 2021.

Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689, the office was re-styled First Naval Lord in 1771. The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805, and the title of the office was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir John "Jackie" Fisher in 1904. Since 1923, the First Sea Lord has been a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; he now sits on the Defence Council and the Admiralty Board.

Responsibilities

The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and a member of the Defence Council. He is responsible to Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service. As a member of the Defence Council, the First Sea Lord supports the Secretary of State in the management and direction of the Armed Forces through prerogative and statutory powers. As a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he advises CDS on maritime strategy and policy. He has a collective responsibility for providing strategic direction to the department, managing performance and ensuring that defence delivers the required outputs.

History

Lords Admiral were appointed from the 15th century; they were later styled Lords High Admiral until the 18th century, and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from the 17th century, as the governors of the English and later British Royal Navy. From 1683 to 1684, there were seven paid Commissioners, and one unpaid supernumerary Commissioner. The number varied between five and seven Commissioners through the 18th century. The standing of all the Commissioners was in theory the same, although the First Commissioner or First Lord exercised an ascendancy over his colleagues from an early date.

The generally recognized office of Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty was established on 8 March 1689, with the first incumbent being Admiral Arthur Herbert; he was also First Lord of the Admiralty. On 20 January 1690 Admiral Herbert was succeeded by Admiral Sir John Chicheley under First Lord of Admiralty Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.

On 22 May 1702 the Board of Admiralty ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced by the Lord Admiral's Council. The previous office of Senior Naval Lord was replaced by a Senior Member to the Lords Admiral Council; he was usually a serving naval officer of admiral rank and was the Chief Naval Adviser to the Lord Admiral. This lasted until 8 November 1709, when the Board of Admiralty resumed control of Naval Affairs and the post of Senior Naval Lord was resumed.

On 2 February 1771 the office of Senior Naval Lord was renamed to First Naval Lord. The first post holder was Vice-Admiral Augustus Hervey; he first served under First Lord of the Admiralty John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents. On 2 May 1827 the Board of Admiralty once again ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced, until 1828, by a Lord High Admirals Council.

The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904. In 1917 the First Sea Lord was re-styled First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. From 1923 onward, the First Sea Lord was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and from 1923 to 1959, in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff), he served as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces. The title was retained when the Board of Admiralty was abolished in 1964 and the Board's functions were integrated into the Ministry of Defence.

Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on the Defence Council, the Admiralty Board and the Navy Board.

Since 2012, the flagship of the First Sea Lord has nominally been the ship of the line HMS Victory, which used to be Lord Nelson's flagship.

Appointees

The following table lists all those who have held the post of First Sea Lord or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
Senior Naval Lords
1		Herbert, ArthurAdmiral Arthur Herbert (c. 1648–1716)	8 March 1689	20 January 1690	318 days
2		Chicheley, JohnRear-Admiral Sir John Chicheley (c. 1640–1691)	20 January 1690	5 June 1690	136 days
3		Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet Edward Russell (1653–1727)	5 June 1690	23 January 1691	232 days
4		Priestman, HenryCaptain Henry Priestman (c. 1647–1712)	23 January 1691	2 May 1694	3 years, 99 days
(3)		Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet The Earl of Orford (1653–1727)	2 May 1694	31 May 1699	5 years, 29 days
5		Rooke, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke (1650–1709)	31 May 1699	26 January 1702	2 years, 240 days
6		Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (1656–1720)	8 November 1709	4 October 1710	330 days
7		Byng, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Byng (1663–1733)	4 October 1710	30 September 1712	1 year, 362 days
(6)		Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (1656–1720)	30 September 1712	14 October 1714	2 years, 14 days
(7)		Byng, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Byng (1663–1733)	14 October 1714	16 April 1717	2 years, 184 days
8		Aylmer, MatthewAdmiral of the Fleet Matthew Aylmer (c. 1650–1720)	16 April 1717	19 March 1718	337 days
(7)		Byng, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Byng (1663–1733)	19 March 1718	30 September 1721	3 years, 195 days
9		Jennings, JohnAdmiral Sir John Jennings (1664–1743)	30 September 1721	1 June 1727	5 years, 244 days
10		Norris, JohnAdmiral Sir John Norris (c. 1670–1749)	1 June 1727	13 May 1730	2 years, 346 days
11		Wager, CharlesAdmiral Sir Charles Wager (1666–1743)	13 May 1730	23 June 1733	3 years, 41 days
12		Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754)	23 June 1733	13 March 1738	4 years, 263 days
13		Powlett, HarryLord Harry Powlett (1691–1759)	13 March 1738	19 March 1742	4 years, 6 days
(12)		Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754)	19 March 1742	25 March 1746	4 years, 6 days
14		Beauclerk, VereAdmiral Lord Vere Beauclerk (1699–1781)	25 March 1746	18 November 1749	3 years, 238 days
15		Anson, GeorgeAdmiral The Lord Anson (1697–1762)	18 November 1749	22 June 1751	1 year, 216 days
16		Rowley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768)	22 June 1751	17 November 1756	5 years, 148 days
17		Boscawen, EdwardVice-Admiral The Honourable Edward Boscawen (1711–1761)	17 November 1756	6 April 1757	140 days
(16)		Rowley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768)	6 April 1757	2 July 1757	87 days
(17)		Boscawen, EdwardAdmiral The Honourable Edward Boscawen (1711–1761)	2 July 1757	19 March 1761	3 years, 260 days
18		Forbes, JohnAdmiral The Honourable John Forbes (1714–1796)	19 March 1761	20 April 1763	2 years, 32 days
19		Howe, RichardCaptain The Lord Howe (1726–1799)	20 April 1763	31 July 1765	2 years, 102 days
20		Saunders, CharlesVice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders (c. 1715–1775)	31 July 1765	15 September 1766	1 year, 46 days
21		Keppel, AugustusRear-Admiral The Honourable Augustus Keppel (1725–1786)	15 September 1766	11 December 1766	87 days
22		Brett, PeircyRear-Admiral Sir Peircy Brett (1709–1781)	11 December 1766	28 February 1770	3 years, 79 days
23		Holburne, FrancisAdmiral Francis Holburne (1704–1771)	28 February 1770	2 February 1771	339 days
First Naval Lords
24		Hervey, AugustusCaptain Augustus Hervey (1724–1779)	2 February 1771	12 April 1775	4 years, 69 days
25		Palliser, HughVice-Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser (1723–1796)	12 April 1775	23 September 1779	4 years, 164 days
26		Palliser, HughVice-Admiral Robert Man	23 September 1779	22 September 1780	365 days
27		Darby, GeorgeVice-Admiral George Darby (c. 1720–1790)	22 September 1780	1 April 1782	1 year, 191 days
28		Harland, RobertAdmiral Sir Robert Harland (c. 1715–1784)	1 April 1782	30 January 1783	304 days
29		Pigot, HughAdmiral Hugh Pigot (1722–1792)	30 January 1783	31 December 1783	335 days
30		Leveson-Gower, JohnRear-Admiral John Leveson-Gower (1740–1792)	31 December 1783	12 August 1789	5 years, 224 days
31		Hood, SamuelAdmiral The Lord Hood (1724–1816)	12 August 1789	7 March 1795	5 years, 207 days
32		Middleton, CharlesVice-Admiral Sir Charles Middleton (1726–1813)	7 March 1795	20 November 1795	258 days
33		Gambier, JamesVice-Admiral James Gambier (1756–1833)	20 November 1795	19 February 1801	5 years, 91 days
34		Troubridge, ThomasRear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge (c. 1758–1807)	19 February 1801	15 May 1804	3 years, 86 days
(33)		Gambier JamesVice Admiral James Gambier (1756–1833)	15 May 1804	10 February 1806	1 year, 271 days
35		Markham, JohnRear Admiral John Markham (1761–1827)	10 February 1806	6 April 1807	1 year, 55 days
(33)		Gambier, JamesAdmiral James Gambier (1756–1833)	6 April 1807	9 May 1808	1 year, 33 days
36		Bickerton, RichardVice Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton (1759–1832)	9 May 1808	25 March 1812	3 years, 321 days
37		Domett, WilliamVice Admiral William Domett (1752–1828)	25 March 1812	23 October 1813	1 year, 212 days
38		Yorke, JosephVice Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke (1768–1831)	23 October 1813	24 May 1816	2 years, 214 days
39		Moore, GrahamVice Admiral Sir Graham Moore (1764–1843)	24 May 1816	13 March 1820	3 years, 294 days
40		Johnstone Hope, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope (1766–1831)	13 March 1820	2 May 1827	7 years, 50 days
41		Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853)	19 September 1828	25 November 1830	2 years, 67 days
42		Hardy, ThomasRear Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (1769–1839)	25 November 1830	1 August 1834	3 years, 249 days
43		Dundas, GeorgeRear Admiral The Hon. Sir George Dundas (1778–1834)	1 August 1834	1 November 1834	92 days
44		Adam, CharlesRear Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853)	1 November 1834	23 December 1834	52 days
(41)		Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853)	23 December 1834	25 April 1835	123 days
(44)		Adam, CharlesVice Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853)	25 April 1835	8 September 1841	6 years, 197 days
(41)		Cockburn, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853)	8 September 1841	13 July 1846	4 years, 308 days
45		Parker, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Parker (1781–1866)	13 July 1846	24 July 1846	11 days
(44)		Adam, CharlesVice Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853)	24 July 1846	20 July 1847	361 days
46		Dundas, JamesRear Admiral Sir James Dundas (1785–1862)	20 July 1847	13 February 1852	4 years, 208 days
47		Berkeley, MauriceRear Admiral The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867)	13 February 1852	2 March 1852	18 days
48		Parker, HydeVice Admiral Hyde Parker (1784–1854)	2 March 1852	26 May 1854	2 years, 85 days
(47)		Berkeley, MauriceVice Admiral The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867)	26 May 1854	24 November 1857	2 years, 182 days
48		Dundas, RichardVice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861)	24 November 1857	8 March 1858	104 days
49		Martin, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Martin (1801–1895)	8 March 1858	28 June 1859	1 year, 112 days
(48)		Dundas, RichardVice Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861)	28 June 1859	15 June 1861	1 year, 352 days
50		Grey, FrederickAdmiral The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey (1805–1878)	15 June 1861	13 July 1866	5 years, 28 days
51		Milne, AlexanderVice Admiral Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896)	13 July 1866	18 December 1868	2 years, 158 days
52		Dacres, SydneyAdmiral Sir Sydney Dacres (1804–1884)	18 December 1868	27 November 1872	3 years, 345 days
(51)		Milne, AlexanderAdmiral Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896)	27 November 1872	7 September 1876	3 years, 285 days
53		Yelverton, HastingsAdmiral Sir Hastings Yelverton (1808–1878)	7 September 1876	5 November 1877	1 year, 59 days
54		Wellesley, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Wellesley (1814–1901)	5 November 1877	12 August 1879	1 year, 280 days
55		Key, AstleyAdmiral Sir Astley Cooper Key (1821–1888)	12 August 1879	1 July 1885	5 years, 323 days
56		Hood, ArthurAdmiral Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901)	1 July 1885	15 February 1886	229 days
57		Hay, JohnAdmiral Lord John Hay (1827–1916)	15 February 1886	9 August 1886	175 days
(56)		Hood, ArthurAdmiral Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901)	9 August 1886	24 October 1889	3 years, 76 days
58		Hamilton, RichardAdmiral Sir Richard Hamilton (1829–1912)	24 October 1889	28 September 1891	1 year, 339 days
59		Hoskins, AnthonyAdmiral Sir Anthony Hoskins (1828–1901)	28 September 1891	1 November 1893	2 years, 34 days
60		Richards, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Richards (1833–1912)	1 November 1893	19 August 1899	5 years, 291 days
61		Kerr, WalterAdmiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Kerr (1839–1927)	19 August 1899	21 October 1904	5 years, 63 days
First Sea Lords
62		Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (1841–1920)	21 October 1904	25 January 1910	5 years, 96 days
63		Wilson, ArthurAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Wilson (1842–1921)	25 January 1910	5 December 1911	1 year, 314 days
64		Bridgeman, FrancisAdmiral Sir Francis Bridgeman (1848–1929)	5 December 1911	9 December 1912	1 year, 4 days
65		Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral Prince Louis of Battenberg (1854–1921)	9 December 1912	30 October 1914	1 year, 325 days
(62)		Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet The Lord Fisher (1841–1920)	30 October 1914	15 May 1915	197 days
66		Jackson, HenryAdmiral Sir Henry Jackson (1855–1929)	15 May 1915	30 November 1916	1 year, 199 days
67		Jellicoe, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Jellicoe (1859–1935)	30 November 1916	10 January 1918	1 year, 41 days
68		Wemyss, RosslynAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Rosslyn Wemyss (1864–1933)	10 January 1918	1 November 1919	1 year, 295 days
69		Beatty, DavidAdmiral of the Fleet The Earl Beatty (1871–1936)	1 November 1919	30 July 1927	7 years, 271 days
70		Madden, CharlesAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden (1862–1935)	30 July 1927	30 July 1930	3 years, 0 days
71		Field, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field (1871–1945)	30 July 1930	21 January 1933	2 years, 175 days
72		Chatfield, ErnleAdmiral of the Fleet The Lord Chatfield (1873–1967)	21 January 1933	7 September 1938	5 years, 229 days
73		Backhouse, RogerAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Backhouse (1878–1939)	7 September 1938	12 June 1939	278 days
74		Pound, DudleyAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound (1877–1943)	12 June 1939	15 October 1943	4 years, 125 days
75		Cunningham, AndrewAdmiral of the Fleet The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (1883–1963)	15 October 1943	24 May 1946	2 years, 221 days
76		Cunningham, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Cunningham (1885–1962)	24 May 1946	29 September 1948	2 years, 128 days
77		Fraser, BruceAdmiral of the Fleet The Lord Fraser of North Cape (1888–1981)	29 September 1948	20 December 1951	3 years, 82 days
78		McGrigor, RhoderickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor (1893–1959)	20 December 1951	18 April 1955	3 years, 119 days
79		Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979)	18 April 1955	19 October 1959	4 years, 184 days
80		Lambe, CharlesAdmiral Sir Charles Lambe (1900–1960)	19 October 1959	23 May 1960	217 days
81		John, CasparAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John (1903–1984)	23 May 1960	7 August 1963	3 years, 76 days
82		Luce, DavidAdmiral Sir David Luce (1906–1971)	7 August 1963	15 March 1966	2 years, 220 days
83		Begg, VarylAdmiral Sir Varyl Begg (1908–1995)	15 March 1966	12 August 1968	2 years, 150 days
84		Fanu, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Le Fanu (1913–1970)	12 August 1968	3 July 1970	1 year, 325 days
85		Hill, PeterAdmiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton (1915–2004)	3 July 1970	9 April 1971	280 days
86		Pollock, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Pollock (1916–2006)	9 April 1971	1 March 1974	2 years, 326 days
87		Ashmore, EdwardAdmiral Sir Edward Ashmore (1919–2016)	1 March 1974	9 February 1977	2 years, 345 days
88		Lewin, TerenceAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Terence Lewin (1920–1999)	1 March 1977	6 July 1979	2 years, 127 days
89		Leach, HenryAdmiral Sir Henry Leach (1923–2011)	6 July 1979	1 December 1982	3 years, 148 days
90		Fieldhouse, JohnAdmiral Sir John Fieldhouse (1928–1992)	1 December 1982	2 August 1985	2 years, 244 days
91		Staveley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Staveley (1928–1997)	2 August 1985	25 May 1989	3 years, 296 days
92		Oswald, JulianAdmiral Sir Julian Oswald (1933–2011)	25 May 1989	2 March 1993	3 years, 281 days
93		Bathurst, BenjaminAdmiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst (born 1936)	2 March 1993	10 July 1995	2 years, 130 days
94		Slater, JockAdmiral Sir Jock Slater (born 1938)	10 July 1995	8 October 1998	3 years, 90 days
95		Boyce, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Boyce (1943–2022)	8 October 1998	16 January 2001	2 years, 100 days
96		Essenhigh, NigelAdmiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh (born 1944)	16 January 2001	17 September 2002	1 year, 244 days
97		West, AlanAdmiral Sir Alan West (born 1948)	17 September 2002	6 February 2006	3 years, 142 days
98		Band, JonathonAdmiral Sir Jonathon Band (born 1950)	6 February 2006	21 July 2009	3 years, 165 days
99		Stanhope, MarkAdmiral Sir Mark Stanhope (born 1952)	21 July 2009	9 April 2013	3 years, 262 days
100		Zambellas, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Zambellas (born 1958)	9 April 2013	8 April 2016	2 years, 365 days
101		Jones, PhilipAdmiral Sir Philip Jones (born 1960)	8 April 2016	19 June 2019	3 years, 72 days
102		Radakin, TonyAdmiral Sir Tony Radakin (born 1965)	19 June 2019	8 November 2021	2 years, 142 days
103		Key, BenAdmiral Sir Ben Key (born 1965)	8 November 2021	Incumbent	3 years, 52 days

In fiction

In John Buchan's novel The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), the First Sea Lord is named as Lord Alloa, an impostor whom Richard Hannay recognizes at a meeting as a spy and recent pursuer of his. Hannay describes Lord Alloa as recognizable from news pictures for his "beard cut like a spade, the firm fighting mouth, the blunt square nose, and the keen blue eyes...the man, they say, that made the New British Navy". The real First Sea Lord at the time the story is set (early summer 1914) was Prince Louis of Battenberg, coincidentally also bearded.

See also

• Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
• Second Sea Lord
• Third Sea Lord
• Fourth Sea Lord
• Fifth Sea Lord
• Chief of the Air Staff – the Royal Air Force equivalent
• Chief of the General Staff – the British Army equivalent

Notes

1. In 1955, it was decided to create a new post, Chief of the Defence Staff, who would be chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
2. ^ Later served as Chief of the Defence Staff.

Citations

1. ^ "Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE has been appointed to First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff". gov.uk. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
2. ^ Rodger 1979, p. 34.
3. ^ Rodger 1979, p. 69.
4. Thomas 1988, p. 31.
5. "People – First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff". MoD. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
6. "Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 June 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
7. ^ Sainty 1975, pp. 18–31.
8. Rodger 1979, p. 91.
9. Heathcote 2002, p. 81.
10. Friedman 2015, p. 21.
11. Defence Administrative Responsibilities Archived 17 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Hansard, 25 October 1955
12. Ministry of Defence (10 December 2012). "History of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence website" (PDF). Mod.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
13. ^ The Navy List, 1992, corrected to 31 March 1992, pub HMSO, ISSN 0141-6081 pages 4–5.
    The Navy List, 2008, compiled 3 September 2008, pub TSO, ISBN 978-0-11-773081-6 pages 4–5.
14. "MOD Royal Navy". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
15. HMS Victory handed to First Sea Lord in Portsmouth Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 10 October 2012, accessed 8 October 2016
16. ^ Rodger, p. 51-52
17. ^ "The Commissioners ("Lords") of the Admiralty 1828 – 1895". W Loney RN. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
18. Heathcote 2002, p. 144.
19. Mackay 1973, p. 315.
20. Heathcote 2002, p. 268.
21. "Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32062. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
22. Kerr 1934, p. 238.
23. Heathcote 2002, p. 83.
24. Heathcote 2002, p. 127.
25. Heathcote 2002, p. 130.
26. Heathcote 2002, p. 252.
27. Heathcote 2002, p. 26.
28. Heathcote 2002, p. 164.
29. Heathcote 2002, p. 75.
30. Heathcote 2002, p. 42.
31. Heathcote 2002, p. 21.
32. Heathcote 2002, p. 217.
33. Heathcote 2002, p. 60.
34. Heathcote 2002, p. 63.
35. Heathcote 2002, p. 90.
36. Heathcote 2002, p. 162.
37. Heathcote 2002, p. 189.
38. Heathcote 2002, p. 150.
39. Heathcote 2002, p. 139.
40. "Sir David Luce". Unit Histories. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
41. Heathcote 2002, p. 29.
42. Heathcote 2002, p. 155.
43. Heathcote 2002, p. 115.
44. Heathcote 2002, p. 214.
45. Heathcote 2002, p. 16.
46. Heathcote 2002, p. 158.
47. Heathcote 2002, p. 152.
48. Heathcote 2002, p. 78.
49. Heathcote 2002, p. 235.
50. Heathcote 2002, p. 204.
51. Heathcote 2002, p. 23.
52. ^ Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
53. "Sir Nigel Essenhigh". University of Exeter. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
54. "Admiral Zambellas new First Sea Lord". Inside Government. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
55. "Admiral Sir Philip Jones takes over as First Sea Lord". Royal Navy. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
56. "A 'generation of innovators' has been appointed to run the military in a shake-up of the top ranks of the Army, Navy and RAF". The Daily Telegraph. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
57. "Admiral Sir Ben Key – who's the new First Sea Lord?". Forces.net. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
58. Buchan 1999, Ch. 8.
59. "Prince Louis of Battenberg". First World War.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

Sources

• Buchan, John (1999) . The Thirty-nine Steps. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-283931-2.
• Friedman, N. (2015). The British Battleship 1906-1946. Seaforth. ISBN 9781848322257.
• Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-835-6.
• Kerr, Mark (1934). Prince Louis of Battenberg: Admiral of the Fleet. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
• Mackay, Ruddock F. (1973). Fisher of Kilverstone. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198224099.
• Rodger, N.A.M. (1979). The Admiralty. Offices of State. Lavenham: T. Dalton Ltd. ISBN 0900963948.
• Sainty, J.C., ed. (1975). Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870, Office-Holders in Modern Britain. Vol. 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
• Thomas, David A (1988). A companion to the Royal Navy. Harrap. ISBN 0-245-54572-7.

v t e First Sea Lords of the Royal Navy
Senior Naval Lords (1689–1771)	Arthur Herbert Sir John Chicheley Edward Russell Henry Priestman Earl of Orford Sir George Rooke Sir John Leake Sir George Byng Sir John Leake Sir George Byng Matthew Aylmer Sir George Byng Sir John Jennings Sir John Norris Sir Charles Wager Lord Archibald Hamilton Lord Harry Powlett Lord Archibald Hamilton Lord Vere Beauclerk Lord Anson Sir William Rowley Edward Boscawen Sir William Rowley Edward Boscawen John Forbes Earl Howe Sir Charles Saunders Augustus Keppel Sir Peircy Brett Sir Francis Holburne
First Naval Lords (1771–1904)	Augustus Hervey Sir Hugh Palliser Robert Man George Darby Sir Robert Harland Sir Hugh Pigot John Leveson-Gower Lord Hood Sir Charles Middleton James Gambier Sir Thomas Troubridge James Gambier John Markham James Gambier Sir Richard Bickerton William Domett Sir Joseph Yorke Sir Graham Moore Sir William Johnstone Hope Sir George Cockburn Sir Thomas Hardy The Hon. George Dundas Charles Adam Sir George Cockburn Sir Charles Adam Sir George Cockburn Sir William Parker Sir Charles Adam Sir James Dundas The Hon. Maurice Berkeley Hyde Parker The Hon. Maurice Berkeley The Hon. Sir Richard Dundas William Martin The Hon. Sir Richard Dundas The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey Sir Alexander Milne Sir Sydney Dacres Sir Alexander Milne Sir Hastings Yelverton Sir George Wellesley Sir Astley Key Sir Arthur Hood Lord John Hay Sir Arthur Hood Sir Richard Hamilton Sir Anthony Hoskins Sir Frederick Richards Lord Walter Kerr
First Sea Lords (1904–present)	Sir John Fisher Sir Arthur Wilson Sir Francis Bridgeman Prince Louis of Battenberg The Lord Fisher Sir Henry Jackson Sir John Jellicoe Sir Rosslyn Wemyss The Earl Beatty Sir Charles Madden, Bt Sir Frederick Field The Lord Chatfield Sir Roger Backhouse Sir Dudley Pound The Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope Sir John Cunningham The Lord Fraser of North Cape Sir Rhoderick McGrigor The Earl Mountbatten of Burma Sir Charles Lambe Sir Caspar John Sir David Luce Sir Varyl Begg Sir Michael Le Fanu Sir Peter Hill-Norton Sir Michael Pollock Sir Edward Ashmore Sir Terence Lewin Sir Henry Leach Sir John Fieldhouse Sir William Staveley Sir Julian Oswald Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir Jock Slater Sir Michael Boyce Sir Nigel Essenhigh Sir Alan West Sir Jonathon Band Sir Mark Stanhope Sir George Zambellas Sir Philip Jones Sir Antony Radakin Sir Ben Key

v t e Admiralty Board
Chairman	Secretary of State for Defence
Civilian	Minister of State for the Armed Forces Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Minister for Reserves Under Secretary of State & the Lords Spokesman on Defence Finance Director (Navy)
Naval	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Fleet Commander Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy)

v t e Navy Board
Naval	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Fleet Commander Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
Civilian	Finance Director (Navy) Non Executive Director

v t e His Majesty's Naval Service
Leadership	Secretary of State for Defence Minister of State for the Armed Forces First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Fleet Commander Commander, Allied Maritime Command Commandant General Royal Marines Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy Corps Regimental Sergeant Major
Components	Royal Navy Surface fleet Fleet Air Arm Submarine Service Royal Navy Medical Service Nursing Service (QARNNS) Chaplaincy Service Navy Police Naval Careers Service Royal Marines UK Commando Force Royal Marines Band Service Royal Marines Reserve Royal Marines Police Royal Naval Reserve HMS Calliope HMS Cambria HMS Ceres HMS Dalriada HMS Eaglet HMS Ferret HMS Flying Fox HMS Forward HMS Hibernia HMS King Alfred HMS President HMS Scotia HMS Sherwood HMS Vivid HMS Wildfire Special forces Special Boat Service
History and future	Admiralty in the 16th century Admiralty in the 17th century Admiralty in the 18th century Customs and traditions Historic forces and commands Future of the Royal Navy History of the Royal Navy (before 1707) (after 1707) History of the Royal Marines National Maritime Museum National Museum of the Royal Navy Naval Historical Branch
Operating forces	Fleet Commander Commander United Kingdom Strike Force Commander Operations Surface Flotilla Submarine Flotilla UK Commando Force
Fleet	List of active Royal Navy ships Royal Fleet Auxiliary Standing Royal Navy deployments List of fleets and major commands of the Royal Navy
Ships	Aircraft carriers Escort carriers Seaplane carriers Amphibious warfare ships Battlecruisers Battleships Pre-dreadnought battleships Bomb vessels Corvette and sloop Cruisers Destroyers Fireships Frigates Gun-brigs Gunboat and gunvessels Hospital ships Ironclads Mine countermeasure vessels Monitors Ironclads Patrol vessels Royal yachts Ships of the line Submarines Support ships Survey vessels Royal Marines Boats Historic ships names
Administration	Defence Council Admiralty Board Navy Board Navy Command
Senior officers	Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) Director People & Training Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy) Director Naval Support Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training Chaplain of the Fleet Director General Ships Commandant General Royal Marines Commander Operations Commander United Kingdom Strike Force Commander Littoral Strike Group Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group Commodore, Naval Staff Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support Commander Maritime Reserves Naval Secretary Rear-Admiral, Fleet Air Arm Commodore Submarine Flotilla Commodore Surface Flotilla Serving senior officers Serving senior Royal Marines officers
Personnel and training	Admiralty Interview Board Britannia Royal Naval College Commando Training Centre Royal Marines Defence Academy of the United Kingdom HMS Raleigh HMS Sultan Royal Corps of Naval Constructors University Royal Naval Unit
Equipment	Uniforms of the Royal Navy Uniforms of the Royal Marines Officer rank insignia Ratings rank insignia Cutlasses
Former leadership	First Lord of the Admiralty Chief of the Admiralty War Staff Admirals of the Fleet Commander-in-Chief Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command Deputy First Sea Lord Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Third Sea Lord Fourth Sea Lord Fifth Sea Lord Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Judge Advocate of the Fleet
category

v t e Board of Admiralty
Ministerial Lords	Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty and President of the Board (1628–1964)
Naval Lords	Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) First Naval Lord (1771–1904) First Sea Lord (1904–1917) First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1917–1964) Second Naval Lord (1830–1869, 1872–1904) Second Sea Lord (1904–1917) Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel (1917–1964) Third Naval Lord (1832–1858) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Third Naval Lord and Controller (1869–1872) Controller of the Navy (1872–1882) Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy (1882–1904) Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1904–1912) Third Sea Lord (1912–1917) Controller of the Navy (1917–1918) Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Matériel (1918–1965) Junior Naval Lord (1868–1904) Fourth Sea Lord (1904–1917) Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport (1917–1955) Fifth Sea Lord (1917) Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Service (1917–1956)
Staff Naval Lords	Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1917–1919) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1942–1946)
Civil Lords	Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1830–1964) Accountant-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of Victualling (1832–1869) Director-General of the Medical Department (1832–1869) Storekeeper-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Surveyor of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1882–1885) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1912–1917) Second Civil Lord (1918–1919) Third Civil Lord (1918–1919) Fourth Civil Lord (1918–1919)
Civil Secretaries	Secretaries to the Lords Admiral, Admiralty, Committees and Commissions (1625–1660) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1660–1763) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1763–1871) Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1871–1886) Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (1886–1959) Joint-Deputy Secretary to the Admiralty (1702–1766) Second Secretary to the Admiralty (1783–1857) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1869–1872) Naval Secretary to the Board of Admiralty (1872–1882) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1882–1964)

v t e Ministry of Defence
Headquarters: Main Building, Whitehall
Armed Forces	Service branches Naval Service Royal Navy Royal Marines British Army Royal Air Force By nation Scotland Wales the Irish
Defence Council	Political Secretary of State for Defence Minister of State for the Armed Forces Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry Minister of State for Defence (House of Lords) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People Military Chief of the Defence Staff Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Chief of the General Staff Chief of the Air Staff Commander Strategic Command Chief of Defence People Civil Service Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence Chief Scientific Adviser Director-General Finance Director-General Head Office and Commissioning Services Director-General Nuclear Director-General Security Policy Lead Non-Executive Board Member Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the People Committee Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the Defence Audit Committee Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the Defence Equipment and Support Board
Service boards	Admiralty Board (Navy Board) Army Board Air Force Board
Service commands	Navy Command Army Command Air Command Strategic Command
Arm's-length bodies	Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)
Top-level budget agencies managed on an arm's-length basis	Defence Business Services (DBS) Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Defence Digital Defence Nuclear Organisation Ministry of Defence Police
Regulatory organisations	Defence Safety Authority Single Source Regulations Office
Intelligence	Defence Intelligence (under Strategic Command) Defence Secretariat 19 (defunct)
Non-departmental public bodies	National Army Museum National Museum of the Royal Navy Royal Air Force Museum
Public corporations	Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) Sheffield Forgemasters
Category

• First Sea Lords and Chiefs of the Naval Staff
• Naval Staff of the Royal Navy
• Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom
• Lords of the Admiralty
• Royal Navy appointments
• Navy chiefs of staff