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.[1]
First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff | |
---|---|
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 |
Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689,[2] the office was re-styled First Naval Lord in 1771.[3] The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805,[4] 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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
The generally recognized office of Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty was established on 8 March 1689,[2] 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[2] under First Lord of Admiralty Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.[7]
On 22 May 1702 the Board of Admiralty ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced by the Lord Admiral's Council.[2] 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.[7]
On 2 February 1771 the office of Senior Naval Lord was renamed to First Naval Lord.[3] 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.[7] On 2 May 1827[8] the Board of Admiralty once again ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced, until 1828, by a Lord High Admirals Council.[7]
The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904.[9] In 1917 the First Sea Lord was re-styled First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff.[10] 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.[a] 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.[12]
Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on the Defence Council,[13] the Admiralty Board[13] and the Navy Board.[14]
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.[15]
Royal Navy | British Army | Royal Air Force | Combined | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1645 | N/A | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | |
1689 | Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) | |||
1771 | First Naval Lord (1771–1904) | |||
1904 | First Sea Lord (1904–1917) | Chief of the General Staff (1904–1909) | Inter-service co-ordination was carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister | |
1909 | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | |||
1917 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | |||
1918 | Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present) | |||
1923 | Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (1923–1959, held by one of the service heads until 1956) | |||
1959 | Chief of the Defence Staff (1959–present) | |||
1964 | Chief of the General Staff (1964–present) |
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 | Arthur Herbert (c. 1648–1716) | Admiral8 March 1689 | 20 January 1690 | 318 days | [2] | |
2 | Sir John Chicheley (c. 1640–1691) | Rear-Admiral20 January 1690 | 5 June 1690 | 136 days | [2] | |
3 | Edward Russell (1653–1727) | Admiral of the Fleet5 June 1690 | 23 January 1691 | 232 days | [2] | |
4 | Henry Priestman (c. 1647–1712) | Captain23 January 1691 | 2 May 1694 | 3 years, 99 days | [2] | |
(3) | The Earl of Orford (1653–1727) | Admiral of the Fleet2 May 1694 | 31 May 1699 | 5 years, 29 days | [2] | |
5 | Sir George Rooke (1650–1709) | Admiral of the Fleet31 May 1699 | 26 January 1702 | 2 years, 240 days | [2] | |
6 | Sir John Leake (1656–1720) | Admiral of the Fleet8 November 1709 | 4 October 1710 | 330 days | [16] | |
7 | Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | Admiral4 October 1710 | 30 September 1712 | 1 year, 362 days | [16] | |
(6) | Sir John Leake (1656–1720) | Admiral of the Fleet30 September 1712 | 14 October 1714 | 2 years, 14 days | [16] | |
(7) | Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | Admiral14 October 1714 | 16 April 1717 | 2 years, 184 days | [16] | |
8 | Matthew Aylmer (c. 1650–1720) | Admiral of the Fleet16 April 1717 | 19 March 1718 | 337 days | [16] | |
(7) | Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | Admiral of the Fleet19 March 1718 | 30 September 1721 | 3 years, 195 days | [16] | |
9 | Sir John Jennings (1664–1743) | Admiral30 September 1721 | 1 June 1727 | 5 years, 244 days | [16] | |
10 | Sir John Norris (c. 1670–1749) | Admiral1 June 1727 | 13 May 1730 | 2 years, 346 days | [16] | |
11 | Sir Charles Wager (1666–1743) | Admiral13 May 1730 | 23 June 1733 | 3 years, 41 days | [16] | |
12 | Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754) | Captain23 June 1733 | 13 March 1738 | 4 years, 263 days | [16] | |
13 | Lord Harry Powlett (1691–1759) | 13 March 1738 | 19 March 1742 | 4 years, 6 days | [16] | |
(12) | Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754) | Captain19 March 1742 | 25 March 1746 | 4 years, 6 days | [16] | |
14 | Lord Vere Beauclerk (1699–1781) | Admiral25 March 1746 | 18 November 1749 | 3 years, 238 days | [16] | |
15 | The Lord Anson (1697–1762) | Admiral18 November 1749 | 22 June 1751 | 1 year, 216 days | [16] | |
16 | Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768) | Admiral22 June 1751 | 17 November 1756 | 5 years, 148 days | [16] | |
17 | The Honourable Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) | Vice-Admiral17 November 1756 | 6 April 1757 | 140 days | [16] | |
(16) | Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768) | Admiral6 April 1757 | 2 July 1757 | 87 days | [16] | |
(17) | The Honourable Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) | Admiral2 July 1757 | 19 March 1761 | 3 years, 260 days | [16] | |
18 | The Honourable John Forbes (1714–1796) | Admiral19 March 1761 | 20 April 1763 | 2 years, 32 days | [16] | |
19 | The Lord Howe (1726–1799) | Captain20 April 1763 | 31 July 1765 | 2 years, 102 days | [16] | |
20 | Sir Charles Saunders (c. 1715–1775) | Vice-Admiral31 July 1765 | 15 September 1766 | 1 year, 46 days | [16] | |
21 | The Honourable Augustus Keppel (1725–1786) | Rear-Admiral15 September 1766 | 11 December 1766 | 87 days | [16] | |
22 | Sir Peircy Brett (1709–1781) | Rear-Admiral11 December 1766 | 28 February 1770 | 3 years, 79 days | [16] | |
23 | Francis Holburne (1704–1771) | Admiral28 February 1770 | 2 February 1771 | 339 days | [16] | |
First Naval Lords | ||||||
24 | Augustus Hervey (1724–1779) | Captain2 February 1771 | 12 April 1775 | 4 years, 69 days | [3] | |
25 | Sir Hugh Palliser (1723–1796) | Vice-Admiral12 April 1775 | 23 September 1779 | 4 years, 164 days | [3] | |
26 | Robert Man | Vice-Admiral23 September 1779 | 22 September 1780 | 365 days | [3] | |
27 | George Darby (c. 1720–1790) | Vice-Admiral22 September 1780 | 1 April 1782 | 1 year, 191 days | [3] | |
28 | Sir Robert Harland (c. 1715–1784) | Admiral1 April 1782 | 30 January 1783 | 304 days | [3] | |
29 | Hugh Pigot (1722–1792) | Admiral30 January 1783 | 31 December 1783 | 335 days | [3] | |
30 | John Leveson-Gower (1740–1792) | Rear-Admiral31 December 1783 | 12 August 1789 | 5 years, 224 days | [3] | |
31 | The Lord Hood (1724–1816) | Admiral12 August 1789 | 7 March 1795 | 5 years, 207 days | [3] | |
32 | Sir Charles Middleton (1726–1813) | Vice-Admiral7 March 1795 | 20 November 1795 | 258 days | [3] | |
33 | James Gambier (1756–1833) | Vice-Admiral20 November 1795 | 19 February 1801 | 5 years, 91 days | [3] | |
34 | Sir Thomas Troubridge (c. 1758–1807) | Rear-Admiral19 February 1801 | 15 May 1804 | 3 years, 86 days | [3] | |
(33) | James Gambier (1756–1833) | Vice Admiral15 May 1804 | 10 February 1806 | 1 year, 271 days | [3] | |
35 | John Markham (1761–1827) | Rear Admiral10 February 1806 | 6 April 1807 | 1 year, 55 days | [3] | |
(33) | James Gambier (1756–1833) | Admiral6 April 1807 | 9 May 1808 | 1 year, 33 days | [3] | |
36 | Sir Richard Bickerton (1759–1832) | Vice Admiral9 May 1808 | 25 March 1812 | 3 years, 321 days | [3] | |
37 | William Domett (1752–1828) | Vice Admiral25 March 1812 | 23 October 1813 | 1 year, 212 days | [3] | |
38 | Sir Joseph Yorke (1768–1831) | Vice Admiral23 October 1813 | 24 May 1816 | 2 years, 214 days | [3] | |
39 | Sir Graham Moore (1764–1843) | Vice Admiral24 May 1816 | 13 March 1820 | 3 years, 294 days | [3] | |
40 | Sir William Johnstone Hope (1766–1831) | Vice Admiral13 March 1820 | 2 May 1827 | 7 years, 50 days | [3] | |
41 | Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | Vice Admiral19 September 1828 | 25 November 1830 | 2 years, 67 days | [7] | |
42 | Sir Thomas Hardy (1769–1839) | Rear Admiral25 November 1830 | 1 August 1834 | 3 years, 249 days | [7] | |
43 | The Hon. Sir George Dundas (1778–1834) | Rear Admiral1 August 1834 | 1 November 1834 | 92 days | [7] | |
44 | Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | Rear Admiral1 November 1834 | 23 December 1834 | 52 days | [7] | |
(41) | Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | Vice Admiral23 December 1834 | 25 April 1835 | 123 days | [7] | |
(44) | Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | Vice Admiral25 April 1835 | 8 September 1841 | 6 years, 197 days | [7] | |
(41) | Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | Admiral8 September 1841 | 13 July 1846 | 4 years, 308 days | [7] | |
45 | Sir William Parker (1781–1866) | Vice Admiral13 July 1846 | 24 July 1846 | 11 days | [7] | |
(44) | Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | Vice Admiral24 July 1846 | 20 July 1847 | 361 days | [7] | |
46 | Sir James Dundas (1785–1862) | Rear Admiral20 July 1847 | 13 February 1852 | 4 years, 208 days | [7] | |
47 | The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867) | Rear Admiral13 February 1852 | 2 March 1852 | 18 days | [7] | |
48 | Hyde Parker (1784–1854) | Vice Admiral2 March 1852 | 26 May 1854 | 2 years, 85 days | [7] | |
(47) | The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867) | Vice Admiral26 May 1854 | 24 November 1857 | 2 years, 182 days | [7] | |
48 | The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861) | Vice Admiral24 November 1857 | 8 March 1858 | 104 days | [7] | |
49 | Sir William Martin (1801–1895) | Vice Admiral8 March 1858 | 28 June 1859 | 1 year, 112 days | [7] | |
(48) | The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861) | Vice Admiral28 June 1859 | 15 June 1861 | 1 year, 352 days | [7] | |
50 | The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey (1805–1878) | Admiral15 June 1861 | 13 July 1866 | 5 years, 28 days | [7] | |
51 | Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896) | Vice Admiral13 July 1866 | 18 December 1868 | 2 years, 158 days | [7] | |
52 | Sir Sydney Dacres (1804–1884) | Admiral18 December 1868 | 27 November 1872 | 3 years, 345 days | [7] | |
(51) | Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896) | Admiral27 November 1872 | 7 September 1876 | 3 years, 285 days | [17] | |
53 | Sir Hastings Yelverton (1808–1878) | Admiral7 September 1876 | 5 November 1877 | 1 year, 59 days | [17] | |
54 | Sir George Wellesley (1814–1901) | Admiral5 November 1877 | 12 August 1879 | 1 year, 280 days | [17] | |
55 | Sir Astley Cooper Key (1821–1888) | Admiral12 August 1879 | 1 July 1885 | 5 years, 323 days | [17] | |
56 | Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901) | Admiral1 July 1885 | 15 February 1886 | 229 days | [17] | |
57 | Lord John Hay (1827–1916) | Admiral15 February 1886 | 9 August 1886 | 175 days | [17] | |
(56) | Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901) | Admiral9 August 1886 | 24 October 1889 | 3 years, 76 days | [17] | |
58 | Sir Richard Hamilton (1829–1912) | Admiral24 October 1889 | 28 September 1891 | 1 year, 339 days | [17] | |
59 | Sir Anthony Hoskins (1828–1901) | Admiral28 September 1891 | 1 November 1893 | 2 years, 34 days | [17] | |
60 | Sir Frederick Richards (1833–1912) | Admiral of the Fleet1 November 1893 | 19 August 1899 | 5 years, 291 days | [17] | |
61 | Lord Walter Kerr (1839–1927) | Admiral of the Fleet19 August 1899 | 21 October 1904 | 5 years, 63 days | [18] | |
First Sea Lords | ||||||
62 | Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (1841–1920) | 21 October 1904 | 25 January 1910 | 5 years, 96 days | [19] | |
63 | Sir Arthur Wilson (1842–1921) | Admiral of the Fleet25 January 1910 | 5 December 1911 | 1 year, 314 days | [20] | |
64 | Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman (1848–1929) | 5 December 1911 | 9 December 1912 | 1 year, 4 days | [21] | |
65 | Prince Louis of Battenberg (1854–1921) | Admiral9 December 1912 | 30 October 1914 | 1 year, 325 days | [22] | |
(62) | The Lord Fisher (1841–1920) | Admiral of the Fleet30 October 1914 | 15 May 1915 | 197 days | [23] | |
66 | Sir Henry Jackson (1855–1929) | Admiral15 May 1915 | 30 November 1916 | 1 year, 199 days | [24] | |
67 | Sir John Jellicoe (1859–1935) | Admiral of the Fleet30 November 1916 | 10 January 1918 | 1 year, 41 days | [25] | |
68 | Sir Rosslyn Wemyss (1864–1933) | Admiral of the Fleet10 January 1918 | 1 November 1919 | 1 year, 295 days | [26] | |
69 | The Earl Beatty (1871–1936) | Admiral of the Fleet1 November 1919 | 30 July 1927 | 7 years, 271 days | [27] | |
70 | Sir Charles Madden (1862–1935) | Admiral of the Fleet30 July 1927 | 30 July 1930 | 3 years, 0 days | [28] | |
71 | Sir Frederick Field (1871–1945) | Admiral of the Fleet30 July 1930 | 21 January 1933 | 2 years, 175 days | [29] | |
72 | The Lord Chatfield (1873–1967) | Admiral of the Fleet21 January 1933 | 7 September 1938 | 5 years, 229 days | [30] | |
73 | Sir Roger Backhouse (1878–1939) | Admiral of the Fleet7 September 1938 | 12 June 1939 | 278 days | [31] | |
74 | Sir Dudley Pound (1877–1943) | Admiral of the Fleet12 June 1939 | 15 October 1943 | 4 years, 125 days | [32] | |
75 | The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (1883–1963) | Admiral of the Fleet15 October 1943 | 24 May 1946 | 2 years, 221 days | [33] | |
76 | Sir John Cunningham (1885–1962) | Admiral of the Fleet24 May 1946 | 29 September 1948 | 2 years, 128 days | [34] | |
77 | The Lord Fraser of North Cape (1888–1981) | Admiral of the Fleet29 September 1948 | 20 December 1951 | 3 years, 82 days | [35] | |
78 | Sir Rhoderick McGrigor (1893–1959) | Admiral of the Fleet20 December 1951 | 18 April 1955 | 3 years, 119 days | [36] | |
79 | The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979) [b] | Admiral of the Fleet18 April 1955 | 19 October 1959 | 4 years, 184 days | [37] | |
80 | Sir Charles Lambe (1900–1960) | Admiral19 October 1959 | 23 May 1960 | 217 days | [38] | |
81 | Sir Caspar John (1903–1984) | Admiral of the Fleet23 May 1960 | 7 August 1963 | 3 years, 76 days | [39] | |
82 | Sir David Luce (1906–1971) | Admiral7 August 1963 | 15 March 1966 | 2 years, 220 days | [40] | |
83 | Sir Varyl Begg (1908–1995) | Admiral15 March 1966 | 12 August 1968 | 2 years, 150 days | [41] | |
84 | Sir Michael Le Fanu (1913–1970) | Admiral12 August 1968 | 3 July 1970 | 1 year, 325 days | [42] | |
85 | Sir Peter Hill-Norton (1915–2004) [b] | Admiral3 July 1970 | 9 April 1971 | 280 days | [43] | |
86 | Sir Michael Pollock (1916–2006) | Admiral9 April 1971 | 1 March 1974 | 2 years, 326 days | [44] | |
87 | Sir Edward Ashmore (1919–2016) | Admiral1 March 1974 | 9 February 1977 | 2 years, 345 days | [45] | |
88 | Sir Terence Lewin (1920–1999) [b] | Admiral of the Fleet1 March 1977 | 6 July 1979 | 2 years, 127 days | [46] | |
89 | Sir Henry Leach (1923–2011) | Admiral6 July 1979 | 1 December 1982 | 3 years, 148 days | [47] | |
90 | Sir John Fieldhouse (1928–1992) [b] | Admiral1 December 1982 | 2 August 1985 | 2 years, 244 days | [48] | |
91 | Sir William Staveley (1928–1997) | Admiral2 August 1985 | 25 May 1989 | 3 years, 296 days | [49] | |
92 | Sir Julian Oswald (1933–2011) | Admiral25 May 1989 | 2 March 1993 | 3 years, 281 days | [50] | |
93 | Sir Benjamin Bathurst (born 1936) | Admiral2 March 1993 | 10 July 1995 | 2 years, 130 days | [51] | |
94 | Sir Jock Slater (born 1938) | Admiral10 July 1995 | 8 October 1998 | 3 years, 90 days | [52] | |
95 | Sir Michael Boyce (1943–2022) [b] | Admiral8 October 1998 | 16 January 2001 | 2 years, 100 days | [52] | |
96 | Sir Nigel Essenhigh (born 1944) | Admiral16 January 2001 | 17 September 2002 | 1 year, 244 days | [53] | |
97 | Sir Alan West (born 1948) | Admiral17 September 2002 | 6 February 2006 | 3 years, 142 days | [52] | |
98 | Sir Jonathon Band (born 1950) | Admiral6 February 2006 | 21 July 2009 | 3 years, 165 days | [52] | |
99 | Sir Mark Stanhope (born 1952) | Admiral21 July 2009 | 9 April 2013 | 3 years, 262 days | [52] | |
100 | Sir George Zambellas (born 1958) | Admiral9 April 2013 | 8 April 2016 | 2 years, 365 days | [54] | |
101 | Sir Philip Jones (born 1960) | Admiral8 April 2016 | 19 June 2019 | 3 years, 72 days | [55] | |
102 | Sir Tony Radakin (born 1965) [b] | Admiral19 June 2019 | 8 November 2021 | 2 years, 142 days | [56] | |
103 | Sir Ben Key (born 1965) | Admiral8 November 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 30 days | [1][57] |
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".[58] The real First Sea Lord at the time the story is set (early summer 1914) was Prince Louis of Battenberg, coincidentally also bearded.[59]