The appointment of Master Gunner, St James's Park, goes back to 1678 and has generally been held by a senior officer in the Royal Artillery. The early incumbents (known then as the Master Gunner of Whitehall and St James's Park) were responsible for the artillery defence of the Palace of Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster.
There has always been a connection between the monarch and the regiment. The Master Gunner, whose appointment is approved by the monarch, is the link to the regiment. He presides over regimental affairs by heading a committee comprising serving and recently retired senior officers of the regiment which provides guidance, advice and direction on all matters and affairs concerning the past, present and future of the Royal Regiment. Along with his fellow Masters and Chiefs, he provides a report annually to the Chief of the General Staff on regimental affairs. The Master Gunner also maintains the links to Commonwealth Royal Artilleries.
The appointment of Master Gunner, St James's Park is not related to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 (Master Gunner).
List of Master Gunners Name Dates of serviceWhitehall and St. James's ParkCaptain Thomas Silver1678–1710Lieutenant Colonel Jonas Watson1710–1741St. James's ParkLieutenant Colonel James Deal1742–1760Major-General Joseph Brome1760–1769Held by a non-commissioned officer1770–1783Major-General Joseph Walton1783–1808Lieutenant General Sir John Macleod1808–1833Major General Sir Alexander Dickson1833–1840General Sir Robert Gardiner1840–1864Field Marshal Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross1864–1868General William Wylde1868–1877General Sir John Bloomfield1877–1880General Poole England1880–1884General Sir John St George1884–1891General Sir Collingwood Dickson1891–1904Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts1904–1914General Sir Robert Biddulph1914–1918Major General Francis Ward1918–1919General Sir Edward Chapman1919–1926General Henry Horne, 1st Baron Horne1926–1929Field Marshal George Milne, 1st Baron Milne1929–1946Field Marshal Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke1946–1956General Sir Cameron Nicholson1956–1960General Sir Robert Mansergh1960–1970Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Baker1970–1976General Sir Harry Tuzo1977–1983General Sir Thomas Morony1983–1988General Sir Martin Farndale1988–1996Field Marshal Richard Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill1996–2000General Sir Alexander Harley2001–2008General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman2008–2017Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory2017–2025Lieutenant General Michael Elviss2025–present
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