The Comptroller of the Navy originally called the Clerk Comptroller of the Navy was originally a principal member of the English Navy Royal, and later the British Royal Navy, Navy Board. From 1512 until 1832, the Comptroller was mainly responsible for all British naval spending and directing the business of the Navy Board from 1660 as its chairman. The position was abolished in 1832 when the Navy Board was merged into the Board of Admiralty. The comptroller was based at the Navy Office.
Contents
History
The post was originally created in 1512 during the reign of Henry VIII of England when the post holder was styled as the Clerk Comptroller until 1545. In 1561 the name was changed to Comptroller of the Navy. The Comptroller presided over the Board from 1660, and generally superintended the business of the Navy Office, and was responsible for the offices dealing with bills, accounts and wages during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. By the eighteenth century the principal officer responsible for estimating annual stores requirements, inspecting ships' stores and maintaining the Fleet's store-books and repair-bills was the Surveyor of the Navy; however, the Surveyor's duties passed increasingly to the Comptroller of the Navy during the latter half this period. The office of Surveyor did not altogether disappear. In 1832 the Comptroller's department was abolished following a merger of the Navy Board with the Board of Admiralty and the Surveyor was made the officer responsible under the First Naval Lord for the material departments, and became an adviser to the Board of Admiralty. In 1860, the name of the office was changed to Controller of the Navy, and in 1869 was merged with the office of the Third Naval Lord, then becoming known as Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy. The Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy was independent of the First Naval Lord and was themself a member of the Board of Admiralty.
Office holders
Included:
Clerk Comptrollers of the Navy
John Hopton, 1512-1524
Vice-Admiral, Sir Thomas Spert, 1524-1540
John Osborne, 1540-1545
William Broke, 1545-1561
Comptrollers of the Navy
Vice-Admiral William Holstocke, 1561–1580
William Borough, 1580–1598
Sir Henry Palmer 1598– 20 November 1611
Sir Guylford Slingsby, 1611–1618
Post in commission 1618–1628
Sir Guylford Slingsby 1628–1631
Sir Henry Palmer, 1632–1641
Vice-Admiral Sir George Carteret, 1641–1642
Sir Robert Slingsby, 31 August 1660 - 26 October 1661
Vice-Admiral Sir John Mennes, 28 November 1661 – 18 February 1671
Admiral Sir Thomas Allin, 15 April 1671 – 28 January 1680
Thomas Hayter, 28 January 1680 - 2 February 1682
Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Haddock, 2 February 1682 – 17 April 1686
Post vacant 1686-1688
Admiral Sir Richard Haddock, 12 October 1688 – 26 January 1715
Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Wager, 16 March 1715 – 23 April 1718
Thomas Swanton, 23 April 1718 - 9 February 1723
Vice Admiral James Mighells, 9 February 1723 – 21 March 1734
Captain Richard Haddock, 27 April 1734 – 27 March 1749