Surf Wiki
Save to docs
geography/united-kingdom

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Lord Privy Seal

Sinecure office of state in the UK

Summary

Sinecure office of state in the UK

FieldValue
postUnited Kingdom
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
insigniaCoat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
insigniacaptionRoyal Arms of His Majesty's Government
imageThe Baroness Smith of Basildon 2024 (cropped).jpg
imagecaptionOfficial cabinet portrait, 2024
incumbentAngela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon
incumbentsince5 July 2024
styleThe Right Honourable
typeGreat Officer of State
appointerThe King (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
termlengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
firstWilliam Melton
formation1307

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal The Lord Privy Seal (or, more formally, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. Originally, its holder was responsible for the monarch's personal (privy) seal (as opposed to the Great Seal of the Realm, which is in the care of the lord chancellor) until the use of such a seal became obsolete. Though one of the oldest offices in European governments, it has no particular function today because the use of a privy seal has been obsolete for centuries; it may be regarded as a traditional sinecure, but today, the holder of the office is invariably given a seat in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, and is sometimes referred to as a minister without portfolio.

Since the premiership of Clement Attlee, the position of Lord Privy Seal has frequently been combined with that of leader of the House of Lords or leader of the House of Commons. The office of Lord Privy Seal, unlike those of leader of the Lords or Commons, is eligible for a ministerial salary under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. The office does not confer membership of the House of Lords, leading to Ernest Bevin's remark on holding this office that he was "neither a Lord, nor a Privy, nor a Seal".

During the reign of Edward I, prior to 1307, the privy seal was kept by the controller of the wardrobe. During the time that the Court of Requests existed, the Lord Privy Seal was its president.

List of Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal

Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (c. 1307–1714)

Lord KeeperTerm of officeMonarch
(Reign)Edward II
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (-1340).svg60px]]
Edward III
[[File:Coat of Arms of Edward III of England (1327-1377) (Attributed).svg60px]]
Richard II
[[File:Coat of Arms of Richard II of England (1377-1399).svg60px]]
Henry IV
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry IV of England (1399-1413).svg60px]]
Henry V
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry IV & V of England (1413-1422).svg60px]]
Henry VI
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry VI of England (1422-1471).svg60px]]
Edward IV
[[File:Coat of Arms of Edward IV of England (1461-1483).svg60px]]
Henry VI
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry VI of England (1422-1471).svg60px]]
Edward IV
[[File:Coat of Arms of Edward IV of England (1461-1483).svg60px]]
Edward V
[[File:Coat of Arms of Edward V of England (1483).svg60px]]
Richard III
[[File:Coat of Arms of Richard III of England (1483-1485).svg60px]]
Henry VII
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry VII of England (1485-1509).svg60px]]
Henry VIII
[[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_England_(1509-1554)_-_Dragon_with_pizzle.png60px]]
Edward VI
[[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_England_(1509-1554)_-_Dragon_with_pizzle.png60px]]
Mary I
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1554-1558).svg60px]]
Elizabeth I
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1558-1603).svg60px]]
James I
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1603-1649).svg60px]]
Charles I
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1603-1649).svg60px]]
Interregnum
Commissioners of Parliament's Great Seal**Charles II
**[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1660-1689).svg60px]]
Court in exileCharles II
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1660-1689).svg60px]]
James II
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1660-1689).svg60px]]
Mary II
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1689-1694).svg60px]]
&
William III
[[File:Coat of arms of England (1694–1702).svg60px]]
Anne
[[File:Coat of Arms of England (1702-1707).svg60px]]
William Melton13071312
Roger Northburgh13121316
Thomas Charlton13161320
Robert Baldock
Archdeacon of Middlesex13201323
Robert Wodehouse13231323
Robert Ayleston13231324
William Ayermin13241325
Henry de Cliff13251325
William Herlaston13251326
Robert Wyvil13261327
Richard Airmyn13271328
Adam de Lymbergh13281329
Richard Bury
Bishop of Durham13291334
Robert Ayleston13341334
Robert Tawton13341335
William de la Zouch13351337
Richard Bintworth13371338
William Kilsby13381342
John de Ufford13421344
Thomas Hatfield13441345
John Thoresby
Master of the Rolls13451347
Simon Islip
Archbishop of Canterbury13471350
Michael Northburgh
Archdeacon of Suffolk13501354
Thomas Bramber13541355
John Winwick13551360
John Buckingham
Bishop of Lincoln13601363
William of Wykeham
Archdeacon of Lincoln13631367
Peter Lacy13671371
Nicholas Carew
MP for Surrey13711377
John Fordham13771381
William Dighton13811382
Walter Skirclaw
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield13821386
John Waltham
Bishop of Salisbury13861389
Edmund Stafford
Bishop of Exeter13891396
Guy Mone13961397
Richard Clifford
Bishop of Bath and Wells13971401
Thomas Langley14011405
Nicholas Bubwith14051406
John Prophet
Dean of York14061415
John Wakering
Bishop of Norwich14151416
Henry Ware14161418
John Kemp
Bishop of Rochester14181421
John Stafford14211422
William Alnwick
Bishop of NorwichArchdeacon of Sarum until 1426; Bishop of Norwich from 142614221432
William Lyndwood
Bishop of St David'sArchdeacon of Oxford 1434–1442; Bishop of St David's from 144214321443
Thomas Beckington
Bishop of Bath and Wells14431444
Adam Moleyns
Bishop of ChichesterDean of Salisbury until 1446; Bishop of Chichester from 144614441450
Andrew Holes
Archdeacon of York14501452
Thomas Lisieux
Dean of St Paul's14521456
Laurence Booth
Bishop of DurhamDean of St Paul's until 145714561460
Robert Stillington
Bishop of Bath and WellsArchdeacon of Taunton until 1465; Bishop of Bath and Wells from 146614601467
Thomas Rotherham
Bishop of RochesterBishop of Rochester from 146814671470
John Hales
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield14701471
Thomas Rotherham
Bishop of LincolnBishop of Rochester until 1472; Bishop of Lincoln from 147214711474
John Russell
Bishop of LincolnBishop of Rochester 1476–1480; Bishop of Lincoln from 148014741483
John Gunthorpe
Dean of Wells14831485
Peter Courtenay
Bishop of Exeter14851487
Richard Foxe
Bishop of WinchesterBishop of Exeter until 1492; Bishop of Bath and Wells 1492–1494; Bishop of Durham 1494–1501; Bishop of Winchester from 150114871516
Thomas Ruthall
Bishop of Durham15161523
Henry Marney
1st Baron Marney15231523
Cuthbert Tunstall
Bishop of London15231530
Thomas Boleyn
1st Earl of Wiltshire15301536
Thomas Cromwell
1st Earl of EssexConcurrently held the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1533, Secretary of State from 1534, and Lord Great Chamberlain in 154015361540
William FitzWilliam
1st Earl of Southampton15401542
John Russell
1st Earl of BedfordBaron Russell from 1539, created Earl of Bedford in 155115421555
William Paget
1st Baron Paget15551558
Nicholas Bacon15581571
William Cecil
1st Baron Burghley15711572
William Howard
1st Baron Howard of Effingham15721573
Thomas Smith
MP for Essex15731576
Francis Walsingham
MP for Surrey15761590
William Cecil
1st Baron Burghley15901598
Robert Cecil
1st Earl of Salisbury15981608
Henry Howard
1st Earl of Northampton16081614
Robert Carr
1st Earl of Somerset16141616
Edward Somerset
4th Earl of Worcester16161625
John Coke
MP for Cambridge University16251628
Robert Naunton16281628
Henry Montagu
1st Earl of Manchester16281642
Lucius Cary
2nd Viscount Falkland16431643
Secretary of State]]16431644
Henry Bourchier
5th Earl of Bath1644Oxford Parliament]], Bourchier is sometimes regarded as holding the office for life. However, during the Interregnum Bourchier was identified as a Delinquent by Parliamentarians and use of the Privy Seal ended. Until the Restoration of Charles II the Great Seal was the primary seal of government, for which the custody held in commission.
16461660
John Robartes
2nd Baron Robartes16601673
Arthur Annesley
1st Earl of Anglesey16731682
George Savile
1st Marquess of Halifax16821685
Henry Hyde
2nd Earl of Clarendon16851687
Henry Arundell
3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour16871688
George Savile
1st Marquess of Halifax16891690
Thomas Herbert
8th Earl of Pembroke16921699
John Lowther
1st Viscount Lonsdale16991700
Ford Grey
1st Earl of Tankerville17001701
John Sheffield
1st Duke of Buckingham and NormanbyMarquess of Normanby from 1694; created Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 170317021705
John Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne17051711
John Robinson
Bishop of Bristol17111713
William Legge
1st Earl of Dartmouth17131714

Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (1714–present)

Lord KeeperTerm of officeOther ministerial portfolios held during tenurePartyMinistryMonarch
(Reign)Tories (British political party)}}"
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess of Wharton.png75px]]Thomas Wharton
1st Marquess of WhartonEarl of Wharton from 1706; created Marquess of Wharton in 171523 September
171431 August
1715WhigTownshend
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland.jpg75px]]Charles Spencer
3rd Earl of Sunderland31 August
171519 December
1716—
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull.JPG75px]]Evelyn Pierrepont
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull19 December
17166 February
1719—
Stanhope–Sunderland I
Stanhope–Sunderland II
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent, by Charles Jervas.jpg75px]]Henry Grey
1st Duke of Kent6 February
171911 June
1720—
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull.JPG75px]]Evelyn Pierrepont
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull11 June
172011 March
1726—
Walpole–Townshend
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:1stBaronTrevor.jpg75px]]Thomas Trevor
1st Baron Trevor11 March
17268 May
1730—
George II
[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg60px]]
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington.jpg75px]]Spencer Compton
1st Earl of Wilmington8 May
1730January
1731WhigWalpole
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:3rd Duke of Devonshire.jpg75px]]William Cavendish
3rd Duke of Devonshire12 January
17315 May
1733Whig
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Henry Lowther
3rd Viscount Lonsdale5 May
173316 May
1735—
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg75px]]Francis Godolphin
2nd Earl of Godolphin16 May
17357 April
1740—
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:John Hervey, Baron Hervey of Ickworth by Jean Baptiste van Loo detail.jpg75px]]John Hervey
2nd Baron Hervey7 April
174013 July
1742—
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:Johnleveson.jpg75px]]John Leveson-Gower
2nd Baron Gower13 July
174210 December
1743ToryCarteret
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]George Cholmondeley
3rd Earl of Cholmondeley10 December
174327 December
1744—
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:Johnleveson.jpg75px]]John Leveson-Gower
1st Earl GowerBaron Gower from 1709; created Earl Gower in 174627 December
17448 June
1755ToryBroad Bottom
(I & II)
Newcastle I
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Joshua Reynolds - 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706-58) 1757 - (MeisterDrucke-569874).jpg75px]]Charles Spencer
3rd Duke of Marlborough8 June
175522 December
1755—
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:1stMarquessOfStafford.jpg75px]]Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Gower22 December
175530 June
1757Tory
Pitt–Devonshire
1757 Caretaker
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple by William Hoare.jpg75px]]Richard Grenville-Temple
2nd Earl Temple30 June
17575 October
1761—Pitt–Newcastle
George III
[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg60px]]
(1760–1820)
The Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811.
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:4thDukeOfBedford.jpg75px]]John Russell
4th Duke of Bedford25 November
176122 April
1763Whig
Bute
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:George Spencer-Churchill (1739–1817), 4th Duke of Marlborough.jpg75px]]George Spencer
4th Duke of Marlborough22 April
176330 July
1765—Grenville
(WhigTory)
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:1stDukeOfNewcastleOld.jpg75px]]Thomas Pelham-Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle30 July
176530 July
1766WhigRockingham I
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham after Richard Brompton cropped.jpg75px]]William Pitt
1st Earl of Chatham30 July
17662 November
1768Whig
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Zoffany - George William Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol.jpg75px]]George Hervey
2nd Earl of Bristol2 November
176826 February
1770—Grafton
(WhigTory)
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:2ndEarlofHalifaxByJoshuaReynoldsNSArtGallery.jpg75px]]George Montagu-Dunk
2nd Earl of Halifax26 February
177022 January
1771ToryNorth
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Sir Joshua Reynolds - Portrait of Henry Howard.jpg75px]]Henry Howard
12th Earl of Suffolk22 January
177112 June
1771—
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton.jpg75px]]Augustus FitzRoy
3rd Duke of Grafton12 June
17714 November
1775Whig
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:William Legge, Second Earl of Dartmouth, by Nathaniel Hone I, 1777, from the Hood Museum of Art - P.960.100.jpg75px]]William Legge
2nd Earl of Dartmouth4 November
177527 March
1782—
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton.jpg75px]]Augustus FitzRoy
3rd Duke of Grafton27 March
17824 April
1783WhigRockingham II
Shelburne
(WhigTory)
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Romney - Frederick Howard, Fifth Earl of Carlisle.jpg75px]]Frederick Howard
5th Earl of Carlisle4 April
178323 December
1783—Fox–North
(WhigTory)
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:4th Duke Rutland.jpg75px]]Charles Manners
4th Duke of Rutland23 December
178327 November
1784—Pitt I
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:1stMarquessOfStafford.jpg75px]]Granville Leveson-Gower
1st Marquess of StaffordEarl Gower from 1754; created Marquess of Stafford in 178627 November
17841794Tory
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.jpg75px]]George Spencer
2nd Earl Spencer179416 July
1794Whig
Independent (politician)}}"[[File:Chatham2.JPG75px]]John Pitt
2nd Earl of Chatham16 July
179414 February
1798—
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:Detail of a mezzotint portrait by John Jones (circa 1745-1797) after George Romney of John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland, 1796.jpg75px]]John Fane
10th Earl of Westmorland14 February
17985 February
1806Tory
Addington
Pitt II
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg75px]]Henry Addington
1st Viscount Sidmouth5 February
180615 October
1806ToryAll the Talents
(WhigTory)
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Henry Vassall-Fox 3rd Baron Holland (1795).jpg75px]]Henry Vassall-Fox
3rd Baron Holland15 October
180625 March
1807Whig
[[File:Detail of a mezzotint portrait by John Jones (circa 1745-1797) after George Romney of John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland, 1796.jpg75px]]John Fane
10th Earl of Westmorland25 March
180730 April
1827ToryPortland II
Perceval
Liverpool
George IV
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg60px]]
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:4th-Duke-of-Portland.gif75px]]William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck
4th Duke of Portland30 April
182716 July
1827ToryCanning
(Canningite–Whig)
Whigs (British political party)}}" rowspan=2[[File:No image.svg75px]]George Howard
6th Earl of Carlisle16 July
182726 January
1828Whig
Goderich
(Canningite–Whig)
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:1stEarlOfEllenborough.jpg75px]]Edward Law
2nd Baron Ellenborough26 January
182810 June
1829Tory
Tories (British political party)}}"[[File:Rosslyn2.JPG75px]]James St Clair-Erskine
2nd Earl of Rosslyn10 June
182922 November
1830Tory
William IV
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg60px]]
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham by Thomas Phillips.jpg75px]]John Lambton
1st Baron Durham22 November
18303 April
1833WhigGrey
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence.jpg75px]]Frederick John Robinson
1st Earl of Ripon3 April
18335 June
1834Whig
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]George Howard
6th Earl of Carlisle5 June
183430 July
1834Whigs
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby by John Jackson.jpg75px]]Constantine Phipps
2nd Earl of Mulgrave30 July
183414 November
1834WhigMelbourne I
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:1stLordWharncliffe.jpg75px]]James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie
1st Baron Wharncliffe15 December
18348 April
1835ConservativePeel I
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Bessborough4.JPG75px]]John Ponsonby
1st Baron Duncannon
styled Viscount Duncannon23 April
183515 January
1840Whig
Victoria
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg60px]]
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:4thEarlOfClarendon.jpg75px]]George Villiers
4th Earl of Clarendon15 January
184030 August
1841Whig
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:2ndDukeOfBuckinghamAndChandos.JPG75px]]Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville
2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos3 September
18412 February
1842ConservativePeel II
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:5th Duke of Buccleuch.jpg75px]]Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott
5th Duke of Buccleuch2 February
184221 January
1846Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Thomas Hamilton.jpg75px]]Thomas Hamilton
9th Earl of Haddington21 January
184627 June
1846Conservative
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:2ndEarlOfMinto.jpg75px]]Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound
2nd Earl of Minto6 July
184621 February
1852WhigRussell I
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:James Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury by DJ Pound.jpg75px]]James Gascoyne-Cecil
2nd Marquess of Salisbury27 February
185217 December
1852ConservativeWho? Who?
Peelite}}" rowspan=2[[File:George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll by George Frederic Watts.jpg75px]]George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll4 January
18537 December
1855PeeliteAberdeen
(Peelite–Whig)
Palmerston I
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Dudley Ryder, 2nd Earl of Harrowby.jpg75px]]Dudley Ryder
2nd Earl of Harrowby7 December
18553 February
1858Whig
Whigs (British political party)}}"[[File:Clanricarde1.JPG75px]]Ulick de Burgh
1st Marquess of Clanricarde3 February
185821 February
1858Whig
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:4thEarlOfHardwicke.jpg75px]]Charles Yorke
4th Earl of Hardwicke26 February
185811 June
1859ConservativeDerbyDisraeli II
Liberal Party (UK)}}" rowspan=2[[File:George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll by George Frederic Watts.jpg75px]]George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll18 June
185926 June
1866LiberalPalmerston II
Russell II
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:JH Harris 3rd Earl of Malmesbury by JG Middleton crop.jpg75px]]James Harris
3rd Earl of Malmesbury6 July
18661 December
1868ConservativeDerbyDisraeli III
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1st Earl of Kimberley 1868.jpg75px]]John Wodehouse
1st Earl of Kimberley9 December
18686 July
1870LiberalGladstone I
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1stViscountHalifax.jpg75px]]Charles Wood
1st Viscount Halifax6 July
187017 February
1874Liberal
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:JH Harris 3rd Earl of Malmesbury by JG Middleton crop.jpg75px]]James Harris
3rd Earl of Malmesbury21 February
187412 August
1876ConservativeDisraeli II
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Benjamin Disraeli by Cornelius Jabez Hughes, 1878.jpg75px]]Benjamin Disraeli
1st Earl of Beaconsfield12 August
18764 February
1878Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Duke of Northumberland 1886 Hollyer.jpg75px]]Algernon Percy
6th Duke of Northumberland4 February
187821 April
1880Conservative
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll by George Frederic Watts.jpg75px]]George Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll28 April
18802 May
1881LiberalGladstone II
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1st Baron Carlingford.jpg75px]]Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue
1st Baron Carlingford2 May
18815 March
1885Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:Archibald-Philip-Primrose-5th-Earl-of-Rosebery (cropped).jpg75px]]Archibald Primrose
5th Earl of Rosebery5 March
18859 June
1885Liberal
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:DFS Ryder 3rd Earl of Harrowby, Lock & Whitfield.jpg75px]]Dudley Ryder
3rd Earl of Harrowby24 June
188528 January
1886ConservativeSalisbury I
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1271754717 william-e.-gladstone.jpg75px]]William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Midlothian17 February
188620 July
1886Liberal
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan.jpg75px]]George Cadogan
5th Earl Cadogan3 August
188611 August
1892ConservativeSalisbury II
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1271754717 william-e.-gladstone.jpg75px]]William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Midlothian20 August
189210 March
1894Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:Portrait of Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth.jpg75px]]Edward Marjoribanks
2nd Baron Tweedmouth10 March
189421 June
1895Liberal
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Portrait of Richard Assheton Cross, 1st Viscount Cross.jpg75px]]Richard Assheton Cross
1st Viscount Cross29 June
189512 November
1900ConservativeSalisbury
(III & IV)
(Con.–Lib.U.)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Robert cecil.jpg75px]]Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
3rd Marquess of Salisbury12 November
1900July
1902Conservative
Edward VII
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg60px]]
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Gws balfour 02.jpg75px]]Arthur Balfour
MP for Manchester East14 July
1902October
1903Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury.jpg75px]]James Gascoyne-Cecil
4th Marquess of Salisbury17 October
1903December
1905Conservative
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg75px]]George Robinson
1st Marquess of Ripon10 December
1905October
1908Liberal
Asquith
(I–III)
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg75px]]Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Marquess of CreweEarl of Crewe from 1895; created Marquess of Crewe July 19119 October
1908October
1911Liberal
George V
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg60px]]
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:1stMarquessOfLincolnshire.jpg75px]]Charles Wynn-Carington
1st Earl Carrington23 October
1911February
1912Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)}}"[[File:Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg75px]]Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Marquess of Crewe13 February
1912May
1915Liberal
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Curzon2.jpg75px]]George Curzon
1st Earl Curzon of Kedleston25 May
1915December
1916Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Crawford27.JPG75px]]David Lindsay
27th Earl of Crawford15 December
1916January
1919ConservativeLloyd George
(I & II)
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Andrew Bonar Law 02.jpg75px]]Bonar Law
MP for Glasgow Central10 January
1919March
1921Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Austen Chamberlain nobel.jpg75px]]Austen Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham West23 March
1921October
1922Conservative
VacantOctober
1922May
1923Law
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood cph.3b29913.jpg75px]]Robert Cecil
1st Viscount Cecil of ChelwoodMP for Hitchin until 1923; created Viscount Cecil of Chelwood December 192328 May
1923January
1924ConservativeBaldwin I
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:J.R. Clynes LCCN2014717260 (cropped).jpg75px]]J. R. Clynes
MP for Manchester Platting22 January
1924November
1924Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury.jpg75px]]James Gascoyne-Cecil
4th Marquess of Salisbury6 November
1924June
1929Conservative
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:James Henry Thomas circa 1920.jpg75px]]Jimmy Thomas
MP for Derby7 June
1929June
1930LabourMacDonald II
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Vernon Hartshorn.jpg75px]]Vernon Hartshorn
MP for Ogmore5 June
1930March
1931Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Thomas Johnston.png75px]]Tom Johnston
MP for West Stirlingshire24 March
1931August
1931Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Earl Peel cropped.jpg75px]]William Peel
1st Earl PeelAugust
1931November
1931ConservativeNational I
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
National Labour Organisation}}"[[File:Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden.jpg75px]]Philip Snowden
1st Viscount Snowden5 November
1931September
1932National LabourNational II
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233 (cropped).jpg75px]]Stanley Baldwin
MP for Bewdley29 September
1932December
1933Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Anthony Eden (retouched).jpg75px]]Anthony Eden
MP for Warwick and Leamington31 December
1933June
1935Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Charles (Charlie) Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry.jpg75px]]Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart
7th Marquess of Londonderry7 June
1935November
1935Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:1st Earl of Halifax 1947.jpg75px]]Edward Wood
3rd Viscount Halifax22 November
1935May
1937Conservative
Edward VIII
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg60px]]
George VI
[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg60px]]
National Labour Organisation}}"[[File:Lord De La warr.jpg75px]]Herbrand Sackville
9th Earl De La Warr28 May
1937October
1938National LabourNational IV
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
National Government (United Kingdom)}}"[[File:John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley 1943.jpg75px]]John Anderson
1st Viscount Waverley
MP for Combined Scottish Universities31 October
1938September
1939Independent
(National)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg75px]]Samuel Hoare
1st Viscount Templewood
MP for Chelsea3 September
1939April
1940ConservativeChamberlain War
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Kingsley Wood cropped.jpg75px]]Kingsley Wood
MP for Woolwich West3 April
1940May
1940Conservative
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Clement Attlee.jpg75px]]Clement Attlee
MP for Limehouse11 May
1940February
1942Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Stafford Cripps 1947.jpg75px]]Stafford Cripps
MP for Bristol East19 February
1942November
1942Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg75px]]Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne22 November
1942September
1943Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Lord Beaverbrook 1947b.jpg75px]]Max Aitken
1st Baron Beaverbrook24 September
1943July
1945Conservative
Churchill Caretaker
(Con.–N.Lib.)
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Arthur Greenwood.jpg75px]]Arthur Greenwood
MP for Wakefield27 July
194517 April
1947Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Philip Inman
1st Baron Inman17 April
19477 October
1947Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison.jpg75px]]Christopher Addison
1st Viscount Addison7 October
19479 March
1951Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Ernest Bevin MP.jpg75px]]Ernest Bevin
MP for Woolwich East9 March
195114 April
1951Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Richard Stokes.jpg75px]]Richard Stokes
MP for Ipswich26 April
1951October
1951Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg75px]]Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
5th Marquess of Salisbury28 October
19517 May
1952Conservative
Elizabeth II
[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.svg60px]]
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Harrycrookshank.jpg75px]]Harry Crookshank
MP for Gainsborough7 May
195220 December
1955Conservative
Eden
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Rab Butler.png75px]]R. A. Butler
MP for Saffron Walden20 December
1955October
1959Conservative
Macmillan
(I & II)
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Lord Hailsham 1959.jpg75px]]Quintin Hogg
2nd Viscount Hailsham14 October
1959July
1960Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Heathdod.JPG75px]]Edward Heath
MP for Bexley27 July
1960October
1963Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Selwyn Lloyd cropped.jpg75px]]Selwyn Lloyd
MP for Wirral20 October
1963October
1964Conservative
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Lord Longford 4 Allan Warren.jpg75px]]Frank Pakenham
7th Earl of Longford18 October
1964December
1965Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Frank Soskice
MP for Newport23 December
1965April
1966Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Lord Longford 4 Allan Warren.jpg75px]]Frank Pakenham
7th Earl of Longford6 April
1966January
1968Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Edward Shackleton
Baron Shackleton16 January
1968April
1968Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Fred Peart
MP for Workington6 April
1968October
1968Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Edward Shackleton
Baron Shackleton18 October
1968June
1970Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe.jpg75px]]George Jellicoe
2nd Earl Jellicoe20 June
1970June
1973ConservativeHeath
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]David Hennessy
3rd Baron Windlesham5 June
1973March
1974Conservative
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Malcolm Shepherd
2nd Baron Shepherd7 March
1974September
1976LabourWilson
(III & IV)
Callaghan
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Fred Peart
Baron Peart10 September
1976May
1979Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Ian Gilmour
Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar
MP for Chesham and Amersham5 May
1979September
1981Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Humphrey Atkins
MP for Spelthorne14 September
1981April
1982Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Janet Young
Baroness Young6 April
1982June
1983Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]John Biffen
MP for North Shropshire11 June
1983June
1987Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Official portrait of Lord Wakeham crop 2.jpg75px]]John Wakeham
MP for South Colchester and Maldon13 June
198710 January
1988ConservativeThatcher III
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]John Ganzoni
2nd Baron Belstead10 January
198828 November
1990Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]David Waddington
Baron Waddington28 November
199011 April
1992ConservativeMajor I
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Official portrait of Lord Wakeham crop 2.jpg75px]]John Wakeham
Baron Wakeham11 April
199220 July
1994Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 2013.JPG75px]]Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne20 July
19942 May
1997Conservative
Major II
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Ivor Richard
Baron Richard2 May
199727 July
1998LabourBlair I
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Baroness Jay of Paddington (cropped).jpg100x100px]]Margaret Jay
Baroness Jay of Paddington27 July
19988 June
2001Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:No image.svg75px]]Gareth Williams
Baron Williams of Mostyn8 June
200113 June
2003Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Peter Hain.png94x94px]]Peter Hain
MP for Neath13 June
20036 May
2005Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg75px]]Geoff Hoon
MP for Ashfield6 May
2005[5 May
2006](2006-british-cabinet-reshuffle)LabourBlair III
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Jack Straw 2.jpg75px]]Jack Straw
MP for Blackburn[5 May
2006](2006-british-cabinet-reshuffle)27 June
2007Labour
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:Harriet Harman (3x4 crop).jpg99x99px]]Harriet Harman
MP for Camberwell and Peckham28 June
200711 May
2010Labour
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:George Young Minister.jpg100x100px]]George Young
MP for North West Hampshire12 May
2010[4 September
2012](2012-british-cabinet-reshuffle)Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Andrew Lansley Official.jpg112x112px]]Andrew Lansley
MP for South Cambridgeshire[4 September
2012](2012-british-cabinet-reshuffle)[14 July
2014](2014-british-cabinet-reshuffle)Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:The Baroness Stowell (cropped).jpg100x100px]]Tina Stowell
Baroness Stowell of Beeston[15 July
2014](2014-british-cabinet-reshuffle)14 July
2016Conservative
Cameron II
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Baroness Evans Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg99x99px]]Natalie Evans
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park14 July
20166 September
2022ConservativeMay I
May II
Johnson I
Johnson II
Conservative Party (UK)}}"[[File:Lord True Official Cabinet Portrait, October 2022 (cropped).jpg99x99px]]Nicholas True
Baron True6 September
20225 July
2024Conservative
Charles III
[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022).svg60px]]
(2022–present)
Sunak
Labour Party (UK)}}"[[File:The Baroness Smith of Basildon 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg99x99px]]Angela Smith
Baroness Smith of Basildon5 July
2024IncumbentLabourStarmer

;Notes

Other countries

  • Keeper of the seals of France
  • Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan
  • Keeper of the Rulers' Seal of Malaysia

Citations

References

References

  1. "Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975".
  2. Beckett, Francis. (1997). "Clem Attlee: A Biography". Richard Cohen.
  3. Beckett, Francis. (2000). "Clem Attlee: A Biography". Politico's Publishing.
  4. Sayers, Jane. "The English Royal Chancery".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

lists-of-government-ministers-of-the-united-kingdom ministerial-offices-in-the-united-kingdom lists-of-british-people 1307-establishments-in-england lords-privy-seal
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Lord Privy Seal — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report