Paymaster of the Forces
Encyclopedia
The Paymaster of the Forces was a position in the British government. The office, which was established 1661 after the Restoration
, was responsible for part of the financing of the British Army
. The first to hold the office was Sir Stephen Fox
. Before his time it had been the custom to appoint Treasurers at War, ad hoc, for campaigns. Within a generation of the Restoration the status of the Paymastership began to change. In 1692 the then Paymaster, the earl of Ranelagh, was sworn of the privy council; and thereafter every Paymaster, or when there were two Paymasters at least one of them, was sworn of the council if not already a member. From the accession of Queen Anne the Paymaster tended to change with the Ministry. By the eighteenth the office had become a political prize and perhaps potentially the most lucrative that a parliamentary career had to offer. Appointments to the office, was therefore often made not upon merit alone, but by merit and political affiliation. It was occasionally a cabinet-level post in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and many future prime ministers served as Paymaster.
The duty of the Paymaster was to act as sole domestic banker of the army. He received, mainly from the exchequer
, the sums voted by parliament for military expenditure, and from other quarters he received fortuitous sums such as those realized by the sale of old stores. He disbursed these sums, by his own hands or by Deputy Paymasters; such disbursements being made under the authority of sign manual
warrants as far as related to the ordinary expenses of the army, and under Treasury warrants in the case of the extraordinaries, that is to say the expenses unforeseen and unprovided for by parliament. During the whole time in which public money was in his hands, from the day of receipt until the issue of his final discharge, the Quietus of the Pipe Office
, his private estate was liable for the money in his hands; and failing the Quietus this liability remained without limit of time, passing on his death to his legal representatives.
The position was abolished in 1836.
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, was responsible for part of the financing of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The first to hold the office was Sir Stephen Fox
Stephen Fox
Sir Stephen Fox was an English politician.-Life:Stephen Fox was the son of William Fox, of Farley, in Wiltshire, a yeoman farmer...
. Before his time it had been the custom to appoint Treasurers at War, ad hoc, for campaigns. Within a generation of the Restoration the status of the Paymastership began to change. In 1692 the then Paymaster, the earl of Ranelagh, was sworn of the privy council; and thereafter every Paymaster, or when there were two Paymasters at least one of them, was sworn of the council if not already a member. From the accession of Queen Anne the Paymaster tended to change with the Ministry. By the eighteenth the office had become a political prize and perhaps potentially the most lucrative that a parliamentary career had to offer. Appointments to the office, was therefore often made not upon merit alone, but by merit and political affiliation. It was occasionally a cabinet-level post in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and many future prime ministers served as Paymaster.
The duty of the Paymaster was to act as sole domestic banker of the army. He received, mainly from the exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, the sums voted by parliament for military expenditure, and from other quarters he received fortuitous sums such as those realized by the sale of old stores. He disbursed these sums, by his own hands or by Deputy Paymasters; such disbursements being made under the authority of sign manual
Royal sign-manual
The royal sign manual is the formal name given in the Commonwealth realms to the autograph signature of the sovereign, by the affixing of which the monarch expresses his or her pleasure either by order, commission, or warrant. A sign-manual warrant may be either an executive actfor example, an...
warrants as far as related to the ordinary expenses of the army, and under Treasury warrants in the case of the extraordinaries, that is to say the expenses unforeseen and unprovided for by parliament. During the whole time in which public money was in his hands, from the day of receipt until the issue of his final discharge, the Quietus of the Pipe Office
Pipe Rolls
The Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls, are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833. They form the oldest continuous series of records kept by...
, his private estate was liable for the money in his hands; and failing the Quietus this liability remained without limit of time, passing on his death to his legal representatives.
The position was abolished in 1836.
Paymasters of the Forces, 1661-1836
- Stephen FoxStephen FoxSir Stephen Fox was an English politician.-Life:Stephen Fox was the son of William Fox, of Farley, in Wiltshire, a yeoman farmer...
1661-1676 - Sir Henry Puckering Newton 1676-1679
- Sir Stephen FoxStephen FoxSir Stephen Fox was an English politician.-Life:Stephen Fox was the son of William Fox, of Farley, in Wiltshire, a yeoman farmer...
1679-1680 - Nicholas Johnson and William Fox 1680-1682
- Charles Fox 1682-1685
- Richard Jones, 1st Earl of RanelaghRichard Jones, 1st Earl of RanelaghRichard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh PC FRS , known as The Viscount Ranelagh between 1669 and 1677, was an Irish peer, politician both in the Parliaments of England and Ireland.-Background:...
1685-1702 - John Howe 1702-1714
- Robert WalpoleRobert WalpoleRobert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
1714-1715 - Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of LincolnHenry Clinton, 7th Earl of LincolnHenry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln, KG, PC was the son of Francis Clinton, 6th Earl of Lincoln and his second wife Susan Penniston, daughter of Anthony Penniston...
1715-1720 - Robert WalpoleRobert WalpoleRobert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
1720-1721 - Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 4th Baron CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis PC was a British politician. He was the son of Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis and Elizabeth Fox . On 29 April 1693 he succeeded his father as Baron Cornwallis. He married Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran, on 6...
1721-1722 - Spencer Compton, 1st Lord WilmingtonSpencer Compton, 1st Earl of WilmingtonSpencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington KG, KB, PC was a British Whig statesman who served continuously in government from 1715 until his death. He served as the nominal head of government from 1742 until his death in 1743, but was merely a figurehead for the true leader of the government, Lord...
1722-1730 - Henry PelhamHenry PelhamHenry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
1730-1743 - Thomas Winnington 1743-1746
- William Pitt the Elder 1746-1755
- Henry Vane, 1st Earl of DarlingtonHenry Vane, 1st Earl of DarlingtonHenry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington PC was an English peer, the son of Gilbert Vane, 2nd Baron Barnard.On 2 September 1725, he married Lady Grace Fitzroy, daughter of Charles Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Southampton and they had seven children.Vane was Whig MP for Launceston from 1726 to 1727, St Mawes...
and Thomas Hay, Viscount DupplinThomas Hay, 9th Earl of KinnoullThomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull PC was a Scottish peer and British politician.Hay was elected for Scarborough in 1736, but his election was overturned on petition. He sat as Member of Parliament for Cambridge from 1741 until 1758...
1755-1756 - Thomas Hay, Viscount DupplinThomas Hay, 9th Earl of KinnoullThomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull PC was a Scottish peer and British politician.Hay was elected for Scarborough in 1736, but his election was overturned on petition. He sat as Member of Parliament for Cambridge from 1741 until 1758...
and Thomas PotterThomas Potter (d. 1759)Thomas Potter was a British politician who sat as a Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, Okehampton and St Germans in Cornwall.Potter was the second son of John Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born in 1718. He acquired a law degree at Oxford University. Through his father's interest, he...
1756-1757 - Henry Fox, 1st Baron HollandHenry Fox, 1st Baron HollandHenry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, of Foxley, MP, PC was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction...
1757-1765 - Charles TownshendCharles TownshendCharles Townshend was a British politician. He was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey , daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford, a lady who rivalled her son in...
1765-1766 - Frederick North, Lord NorthFrederick North, Lord NorthFrederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC , more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence...
and George Cooke 1766-1767 - George Cooke and Thomas TownshendThomas Townshend, 1st Viscount SydneyThomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney PC , was a British politician who held several important Cabinet posts in the second half of the 18th century...
(later Viscount Sydney) 1767-1768 - Richard RigbyRichard RigbyRichard Rigby , was an English civil servant and politician. He served as Secretary of Ireland and Paymaster of the Forces...
1768-1782 - Edmund BurkeEdmund BurkeEdmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
1782 - Isaac BarréIsaac BarréIsaac Barré was an Irish soldier and politician. He earned distinction serving with the British army during the Seven Years' War, and later became a prominent Member of Parliament where he became a vocal supporter of William Pitt. He is known for coining the term "Sons of Liberty" in reference to...
1782-1783 - Edmund BurkeEdmund BurkeEdmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
1783 - William Wyndham Grenville 1783-1784
- William Wyndham Grenville and Constantine Phipps, 2nd Baron MulgraveConstantine Phipps, 2nd Baron MulgraveConstantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave, PC was an English explorer and officer in the Royal Navy. He served during the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence, seeing action in a number of battles and engagements...
1784-1789 - Constantine Phipps, 2nd Baron MulgraveConstantine Phipps, 2nd Baron MulgraveConstantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave, PC was an English explorer and officer in the Royal Navy. He served during the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence, seeing action in a number of battles and engagements...
, and James Graham, Marquess of GrahamJames Graham, 3rd Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:...
1789-1791 - Dudley RyderDudley Ryder, 1st Earl of HarrowbyDudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby, PC, FSA was a prominent British politician of the Pittite faction and the Tory party.-Background and education:...
and Thomas SteeleThomas Steele (politician)Thomas Steele was a British politician at the turn of the nineteenth century.After Westminster School and Cambridge, he was elected as MP for Chichester in 1780, holding the seat until 1807....
1791-1800 - Thomas SteeleThomas Steele (politician)Thomas Steele was a British politician at the turn of the nineteenth century.After Westminster School and Cambridge, he was elected as MP for Chichester in 1780, holding the seat until 1807....
and George CanningGeorge CanningGeorge Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
1800-1801 - Thomas SteeleThomas Steele (politician)Thomas Steele was a British politician at the turn of the nineteenth century.After Westminster School and Cambridge, he was elected as MP for Chichester in 1780, holding the seat until 1807....
and Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron GlenbervieSylvester Douglas, 1st Baron GlenbervieSylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie PC, KC, FRS, FSA was a British lawyer, politician and diarist. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1793 and 1794.-Background, education and legal career:...
1801-1803 - John Hiley AddingtonJohn Hiley AddingtonJohn Hiley Addington was a British Tory Party politician.-Background and education:Addington was the second son of Anthony Addington and his wife Mary, daughter of Haviland John Hiley. His older brother was Henry Addington, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and under whose...
and Thomas SteeleThomas Steele (politician)Thomas Steele was a British politician at the turn of the nineteenth century.After Westminster School and Cambridge, he was elected as MP for Chichester in 1780, holding the seat until 1807....
1803–1804 - George RoseGeorge RoseThe Right Honourable George Rose was a British politician.Born at Woodside near Brechin, Scotland, Rose was the son of the Reverend David Rose of Lethnot, by Margaret, daughter of Donald Rose of Wester Clune...
and Lord Charles Henry Somerset 1804-1806 - Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, Earl TempleRichard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and ChandosRichard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos KG, PC , styled Earl Temple from 1784 to 1813 and known as The Marquess of Buckingham from 1813 to 1822, was a British landowner and politician.-Background:Born Richard Temple-Nugent-Grenville, he was the eldest son...
, and Lord John TownshendLord John TownshendLord John Townshend PC , styled The Honourable John Townshend until 1787, was a British Whig politician.-Background:...
1806-1807 - Charles LongCharles Long, 1st Baron FarnboroughCharles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough GCB PC PC FRS FSA was an English politician and connoisseur of the arts.-Early life:...
and Lord Charles Henry Somerset 1807-1813 - Charles LongCharles Long, 1st Baron FarnboroughCharles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough GCB PC PC FRS FSA was an English politician and connoisseur of the arts.-Early life:...
and Frederick John RobinsonFrederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount GoderichFrederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon PC , styled The Honourable F. J. Robinson until 1827 and known as The Viscount Goderich between 1827 and 1833, the name by which he is best known to history, was a British statesman...
1813-1817 - Charles LongCharles Long, 1st Baron FarnboroughCharles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough GCB PC PC FRS FSA was an English politician and connoisseur of the arts.-Early life:...
1817-1826 - William Vesey FitzgeraldWilliam Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and VeseyWilliam Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey PC, PC , FRS, FSA was an Irish statesman.-Background and education:...
1826-1828 - John CalcraftJohn Calcraft (the younger)John Calcraft the younger , of Rempstone in Dorset and Ingress in Kent, was an English landowner and Member of Parliament....
1828-1830 - Lord John RussellJohn Russell, 1st Earl RussellJohn Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
1830-1834 - Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt. 1834-1835
- Sir Henry Parnell, BtHenry Brook Parnell, 1st Baron CongletonHenry Brook Parnell, 1st Baron Congleton PC , known as Sir Henry Parnell, Bt, from 1812 to 1841, was an Irish writer and Whig politician. He was a member of the Whig administrations headed by Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne of the 1830s and also published works on financial and penal questions as well...
1835-1836