The office of Master of the Ceremonies was established by King James I/VI. The Master's duties were to receive foreign dignitaries and present them to the monarch at court. Below is a list of known holders until the replacement of the office by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in 1920.[1]
Masters of the Ceremonies
- 1603–1627: Sir Lewes Lewkenor[2]
- 1627–1641: Sir John Finett[2]
- 1641–1686: Sir Charles Cotterell[2]
- 1686–1710: Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell[2]
- 1710–1758: Sir Clement Cottrell[2]
- 1758–1779: Sir Charles Cottrell-Dormer[2]
- 1779–1796: Sir Clement Cottrell-Dormer[2]
- 1796–1818: Sir Stephen (or Samuel) Cottrell[2]
- 1818–1847: Sir Robert Chester[2]
- 1847–1876: Hon. Sir Edward Cust
- 1876–1890: Sir Francis Seymour, Bt.
- 1890–1893: Sir Christopher Teesdale[3]
- 1893–1903: Colonel the Honourable Sir William James Colville KCVO, CB[4]
- 1901–: Honourable Richard Charles Moreton[4][5]
- 1903–1907: Sir Douglas Dawson[5][6]
- 1907–1920: Hon. Sir Arthur Walsh[7]
Assistant Masters of the Ceremonies
- 1668–1672: Charles Cotterell[8]
- 1672–1686: Charles Lodowick Cotterell[8]
- 1686–1699: John Dormer[8]
- 1699–1707: Clement Cotterell[8]
- 1710–1740: John Inglis[8]
- 1740–1758: Charles Cotterell[8]
- 1758–1796: Stephen Cotterell[8]
- 1796–1818: Robert Chester[8]
- 1818–1822: Robert Chester (jnr.)[8]
- 1822–1823: W. J. Crosbie[8]
- 1823–1825: Henry Thomas Baucutt Mash[8]
- 1825–1845: Thomas Seymour Hyde[8]
- 1845–1847: Hon. Sir Edward Cust
- 1847–1855: William Henry Cornwall[9]
- 1855–1881: Charles Bagot[10]
- 1881–1887: Augustus Savile
- 1887–1901: William Chaine[4]
- 1901–1922: Robert Follett Synge, Esq., CMG[4]
References
- ^ Great Britain. The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 5355. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Venning, T. Compendium of British Office Holders. p. 482.
- ^ Cook, J.D.; Harwood, P.; Pollock, W.H.; Harris, F.; Hodge, H. (1893). The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art. J. W. Parker and Son. p. 508. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
Sir Christopher Teesdale was very well known, first for his exploits at Kars, then for a long period as Equerry to the Prince of Wales, and, lastly, as Master of the Ceremonies to the Queen.
- ^ a b c d "No. 27336". The London Gazette. 23 July 1901. p. 4838.
- ^ a b Lady's Realm: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Hutchinson and Company. 1904. p. 304. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ Begent, P.J.; Chesshyre, H.; Chesshyre, D.H.B.; Jefferson, L. (1999). The most noble Order of the Garter: 650 years. Spink. p. 140. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ Truth. 1907. p. 191. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Dependent Sub-departments: Ceremonies 1660–1837". British History Online. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Obituary. Major-General Cornwall". The Gentleman's Magazine. No. October 1855. p. 432.
- ^ Bulletins and Other State Intelligence for the Year 1885, Part 2, compiled by T. L. Behan. p. 2000.
- "Dependent Sub-departments: Ceremonies 1660–1837". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660–1837. 2006. pp. 112–114. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- "Cottrell-Dormer of Rousham". Burke's Peerage & Gentry, 107th edition. 2003. Retrieved 2007-02-01.