Lord High Commissioner
Encyclopedia
Lord High Commissioner is the style of High Commissioner
s, i.e. direct representatives of the monarch
, in three cases in the Kingdom of Scotland
and the United Kingdom
, two of which are no longer extant. Consequently the remaining office is often known in short simply as the Lord High Commissioner.
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
(the Kirk), reflecting the latter's role as the national church
of Scotland
, and the Sovereign's role as a member of that Church.
to the United States of the Ionian Islands as a federal Septinsular Republic
of seven formerly Venetian (see Provveditore
) Ionian islands (Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Cerigo and Paxos), officially a joint protectorate of the Allied Christian Powers, de facto a UK amical protectorate, as established under the 1815 Treaty of Paris
.
The office ceased when the islands were integrated in independent Greece in 1864.
The incumbents were:
In addition, between November 1858 and March 1859, William Ewart Gladstone
served as High Commissioner Extraordinary to determine the political future of the Ionian Islands. He recommended that the Ionian Islands remain under British protection. However, when the Bavaria
n-born King of the Hellenes, Otto I, was deposed and replaced by the Anglophile king George I
, the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece, ending the position of Lord High Commissioner.
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
s, i.e. direct representatives of the monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, in three cases in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, two of which are no longer extant. Consequently the remaining office is often known in short simply as the Lord High Commissioner.
Ecclesiastic: Church of Scotland
Main article: Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandLord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
(the Kirk), reflecting the latter's role as the national church
National church
National church is a concept of a Christian church associated with a specific ethnic group or nation state. The idea was notably discussed during the 19th century, during the emergence of modern nationalism....
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and the Sovereign's role as a member of that Church.
Ionian Islands Protectorate
There were ten incumbents in 1815-1863, representing the British protecting powerProtectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
to the United States of the Ionian Islands as a federal Septinsular Republic
Septinsular Republic
The Septinsular Republic was an island republic that existed from 1800 to 1807 under nominal Ottoman sovereignty in the Ionian Islands. It was the first time Greeks had been granted even limited self-government since the fall of the last remnants of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottomans in the...
of seven formerly Venetian (see Provveditore
Provveditore
The Italian title provveditore or proveditore , "he who sees to things", was the style of various local district governors in the extensive, mainly maritime empire of the Venetian dogal republic...
) Ionian islands (Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Cerigo and Paxos), officially a joint protectorate of the Allied Christian Powers, de facto a UK amical protectorate, as established under the 1815 Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1815)
Treaty of Paris of 1815, was signed on 20 November 1815 following the defeat and second abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte. In February, Napoleon had escaped from his exile on Elba; he entered Paris on 20 March, beginning the Hundred Days of his restored rule. Four days after France's defeat in the...
.
The office ceased when the islands were integrated in independent Greece in 1864.
The incumbents were:
- 1815–1823: Sir Thomas Maitland
- 1823–1832: Sir Frederick AdamFrederick AdamGeneral Sir Frederick Adam GCB GCMG was a Scottish major-general at the Battle of Waterloo, in command of the 3rd Brigade. He was the fourth son of William Adam of Blair Adam and his wife Eleanora, the daughter of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone.-Military career:At the age of fourteen...
- 1832–1835: The Lord NugentGeorge Nugent-Grenville, 2nd Baron NugentGeorge Nugent-Grenville, 2nd Baron Nugent GCMG , Irish politician.George Nugent-Grenville was:* Liberal Member of Parliament for Buckingham, 1810–1812; for Aylesbury, 1812–1832....
- 1835–1840: Sir Howard DouglasHoward DouglasGeneral Sir Howard Douglas, 3rd Baronet, GCB, GCMG, FRS was a British military officer born in Gosport, England, the younger son of Admiral Sir Charles Douglas, and a descendant of the Earls of Morton...
- 1840–1843: James Alexander Stewart Mackenzie
- 1843–1849: The Lord SeatonJohn Colborne, 1st Baron SeatonField Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH, PC was a British field marshal and colonial governor.-Early service:...
- 1849–1855: Sir Henry George WardHenry George WardSir Henry George Ward GCMG was an English diplomat and politician. The son of politician and, in his retirement, writer Robert Ward and his first wife Catherine Julia Maling, and the cousin of William Ward and William George Ward, he entered the diplomatic service in 1816...
- 1855–1859: Sir John YoungJohn Young, 1st Baron LisgarJohn Young, 1st Baron Lisgar, Bt, GCB, GCMG, PC was the second Governor General of Canada, in office from 1869 to 1872.-Biography:...
- 1859–1863: Sir Henry Knight StorksHenry Knight StorksSir Henry Knight Storks GCMG GCB was a British soldier and colonial governor.Educated at Charterhouse School, he entered the Army on 10 January 1828 as an ensign of the 61st Regiment of Foot. He was promoted lieutenant on 2 March 1832, exchanged to the 14th Regiment of Foot on 23 March 1832 and...
In addition, between November 1858 and March 1859, William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
served as High Commissioner Extraordinary to determine the political future of the Ionian Islands. He recommended that the Ionian Islands remain under British protection. However, when the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n-born King of the Hellenes, Otto I, was deposed and replaced by the Anglophile king George I
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
, the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece, ending the position of Lord High Commissioner.
See also
- The Queen and religion in the UK
- List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
- Order of precedence in ScotlandOrder of precedence in ScotlandThe order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905. Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1952, 1958 and most recently in 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government....
- Lord LieutenantLord LieutenantThe title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...