The Treasurer of the Navy, originally called Treasurer of Marine Causes or Paymaster of the Navy, was a civilian officer of the Royal Navy, one of the principal commissioners of the Navy Board responsible for naval finance from 1524 to 1832. The treasurer was based at the Navy Pay Office.
History Originally established in 1524, the first holder of the post was William Gonson; he held the office for twenty years until 1544. Although a member of the board, his office was semi-autonomous. The office-holder was responsible for the direction and control of the finance of the Royal Navy. The office was a political appointment and was frequently held by up-and-coming young politicians who would later go on to hold more important positions.
The Treasurer of the Navy Act 1830 (11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4. c. 42) consolidated enactments relating to the office.
Before 1832 all accounts were dealt with by a number of different offices and officials. The Treasurer of the Navy originated during the reign of Henry VIII. He was the senior member of the Navy Board responsible for all Navy accounts; 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. The Treasurer of the Navy survived the re-organisational changes of 1832, but the office was abolished in 1835 and its duties were transferred to the Paymaster General's Office.
Treasurers of the Navy 1524–1836 Notable holders of this post included: ServiceNameNotes1524–October 1544Vice-Admiral, Sir William GonsonOctober 1544–December 1545Captain John Wyntermerchant and sea-captain of Bristol25 Apr 1546–8 Jul 1549Robert Legge8 Jul 1549–18 Nov 1577Benjamin GonsonBennell, John (2004). "Gonson, William (d. 1544)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)18 Nov 1577–26 Nov 1577Benjamin Gonson and John Hawkins26 Nov 1577–12 Nov 1595 John HawkinsKnighted 26 July 158822 Dec 1598–26 Apr 1604Fulk Greville"Greville, Fulke (GRVL568F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.26 Apr 1604–11 May 1618Sir Robert Mansell11 May 1618–5 Apr 1627Sir William Russellcreated baronet 12 March 16275 Apr 1627–21 Jan 1630Sackville Crowecreated baronet 8 July 16271630–1639Sir William Russell1639–1642Sir William Russell and Henry Vane 1642–1646Sir William Russell and Sir John Penington (Royalist) 1646–1654Sir William Russell (Royalist)1645–1650Sir Henry Vane (Parliamentary) 1648–1650Richard Fanshawe (Royalist)1651–1660Richard Hutchinson (Parliamentary) 1660–28 Jun 1667Sir George Carteret 28 Jun 1667–11 Nov 1668Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey 1668–1671Sir Thomas Osborne and Sir Thomas de Littelton, Bt 1671–1673Sir Thomas Osborne 1673–1681Edward Seymour 1681–1689Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland 1689–1699Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford 1699–1710Sir Thomas de Littleton 1710–1711Robert Walpole 1711–1714Charles Caesar 1714–1718John Aislabie 1718–1720Richard Hampden 1720–1724George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington 1724–1734Pattee Byng, 2nd Viscount Torrington1734–1742Arthur Onslow 1742Thomas Clutterbuck 1742–1743Sir Charles Wager 1743–1744Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet1744–1749George Bubb Dodington 1749–1754Henry Legge 1754–1756George Grenville1756George Bubb Dodington 1756–1762George Grenville1762–1765William Wildman Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington1765–1770Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe1770–1777Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Bt 1777–1782Welbore Ellis 1782Isaac Barré 1782–1783Henry Dundas 1783–1784Charles Townshend 1784–1800Henry Dundas Except 1 January 1786 – 18 August 18021800–1801Dudley Ryder 1801–1803Charles Bragge 1803–1804George Tierney 1804–1806George Canning1806–1807Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1807–1818George Rose 1818–1823Frederick John Robinson 1823–1827William Huskisson 1827–1828Charles Grant 1828–1830William Vesey Fitzgerald 1830Thomas Frankland Lewis1830–1834Charles Poulett Thomson 1834–1835William Lowther, Viscount Lowther 1835–1836Sir Henry Parnell
Departments and offices under Treasurer Included: Navy Pay Office (1546–1832) This was in effect the larger part of the Treasurer of the Navy's Department. Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy (1829–1832)
Notes
References
Bibliography Sainty, J. C. (2003), A provisional list: Navy Treasurer c. 1546–1836, The Institute of Historical Research (IHR), School of Advanced Study at the University of London
External links Office-Holders: Navy Treasurer