Comptroller of the Household

The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the British royal household, nominally the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department after the Treasurer of the Household. The Comptroller was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of local government licensing in 2004. In recent times, a senior government whip has invariably occupied the office. On state occasions the Comptroller (in common with certain other senior officers of the Household) carries a white staff of office, as often seen in portraits.^[1]

"Comptroller" is an alternative spelling of "controller", recorded since around 1500 in a number of British titles, and later also in the United States. The variant in spelling results from the influence of French compte "account".

History

Sir Edward Rogers, 'Controller to Queen Elizabeth' in the 1560s, holding his white staff of office

The office of Comptroller of the Household derives from the medieval Household office of Controller of the Wardrobe, who was deputy to the Keeper (or Treasurer) of the Wardrobe, as well as an important official in his own right as keeper of the Privy Seal. Later, both these offices became high-ranking political appointments.

Modern role

In modern times, the Comptroller has become a less prominent position in British politics. The holder is the third-most senior Government whips in the House of Commons and is responsible for the day-to-day activity in the House.^[2] Their responsibilities for the Royal Household are now largely ceremonial, such as serving as an usher at royal garden parties.^[2] The role has been occupied by Chris Elmore since 2024.

Known incumbents

15th century

1399–1400: Sir Robert Lytton^[3]
1402–1413: John Spencer^[4]
after 1413: Sir Robert Babthorpe^[5]
1432–c1450: Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley^[6]
1460: Thomas Charlton^[7]
1461–?1470: Sir John Scott
1471–1475: Sir William Parr^[8]^[9]^[10]
1475–1481: Sir Robert Wingfield^[9]
1481–1483: Sir William Parr^[8]^[9]^[10]
1483–1485: Sir Robert Percy of Scotton^[9]
1485–1489: Sir Richard Edgecumbe^[11]
1489?–1492: Sir Roger Tocotes^[11]
1492–1494: vacant
1494–1506: Sir Richard Guildford^[11]

16th century

1507–1509: Sir John Hussey^[11]
1509–1519: Sir Edward Poynings^[11]
Sir Thomas Parr^[8]
1519–1521: Sir Thomas Boleyn^[11]
1521–1532: Sir Henry Guildford=^[11]
1532–1537: Sir William Paulet^[11]
1537–1539: Sir John Russell^[11]
1539–1540: Sir William Kingston^[11]
1540–1547: Sir John Gage^[11]
1547–1550: Sir William Paget^[11]
1550–1552: Sir Richard Wingfield^[11]
1552–1553: Sir Richard Cotton^[11]
1553–1557: Sir Robert Rochester^[11]
1557–1558: Sir Thomas Cornwallis^[11]
1558–1559: Sir Thomas Parry^[11]
1559–1568: Sir Edward Rogers^[11]
1568: Anthony Crane^[12]
1568–1570: vacant
1570–1590: Sir James Croft^[11]
1590–1596: vacant
1596–1602: William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury^[11]^[12]

Notes

^ Astington, John (1999). English Court Theatre, 1558–1642. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-521-64065-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Gavin Barwell given ancient Government role after holding on to Croydon Central seat". Your Local Guardan. Newsquest. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^ LITTON, Sir Robert (d.c.1415), of Wennington, Essex History of Parliament
^ SPENCER, John (d.1417), of Banham, Norf. and Burgate, Suff. History of Parliament
^ Rawcliffe, Carol (1993), "Waterton, John (d.1417/18), of Waterton, Lincs. and Bramley, Surr.", in J.S. Roskell (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386–1421, retrieved 15 December 2017
^ The history of the house of Stanley, etc p.41
^ "Charlton, Sir Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/92982. Retrieved 1 December 2011. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b ^c "Parr, William (1434-1483?)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Household of Edward IV, Manchester University Press ND Google ebook
^ ^a ^b The DNB gives Sir William Parr as Comptroller of the Household from 1471 to 1483; Household of Edward IV gives Parr's office dates as 1471–1475 and again in 1481–1483
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab Green Cloth officeholders Archived 28 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine Institute of Historical Research
^ ^a ^b ^c Kinney, Arthur F. (1973). Titled Elizabethans: A Directory of Elizabethan Court, State, and Church Officers, 1558–1603. North Haven, Connecticut: Shoe String Press.
^ J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86–87
^ @Marcus4Nuneaton (17 September 2021). "Honoured to be appointed as Comptroller of HM Household in the reshuffle" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2022.

External links

Comptroller Etymology OnLine
Database of Court Officers Loyola University Chicago
Whips from 1970 Archived 19 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine Political Science Resources

[1] Astington, John (1999). English Court Theatre, 1558–1642. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-521-64065-7.

[Barwell-2] "Gavin Barwell given ancient Government role after holding on to Croydon Central seat". Your Local Guardan. Newsquest. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.

[3] LITTON, Sir Robert (d.c.1415), of Wennington, Essex History of Parliament

[4] SPENCER, John (d.1417), of Banham, Norf. and Burgate, Suff. History of Parliament

[5] Rawcliffe, Carol (1993), "Waterton, John (d.1417/18), of Waterton, Lincs. and Bramley, Surr.", in J.S. Roskell (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386–1421, retrieved 15 December 2017

[6] The history of the house of Stanley, etc p.41

[7] "Charlton, Sir Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/92982. Retrieved 1 December 2011. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[dnb-8] "Parr, William (1434-1483?)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

[household-9] The Household of Edward IV, Manchester University Press ND Google ebook

[note-10] The DNB gives Sir William Parr as Comptroller of the Household from 1471 to 1483; Household of Edward IV gives Parr's office dates as 1471–1475 and again in 1481–1483

[off-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab Green Cloth officeholders Archived 28 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine Institute of Historical Research

[Kinney_73-12] Kinney, Arthur F. (1973). Titled Elizabethans: A Directory of Elizabethan Court, State, and Church Officers, 1558–1603. North Haven, Connecticut: Shoe String Press.

[13] J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86–87

[14] @Marcus4Nuneaton (17 September 2021). "Honoured to be appointed as Comptroller of HM Household in the reshuffle" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[15] "Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2022.

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Comptroller of the Household

History

Modern role

Known incumbents

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Notes

External links