Vice-Admiral of the Coast
Encyclopedia
The holder of the post Vice-Admiral of the Coast was responsible for the defence of one of the twenty maritime counties of England
, the North and South of Wales
, or the four provinces of Ireland
.
As a Vice-Admiral, the post holder was the chief of naval administration for his district. His responsibilities included pressing men for naval service, deciding the lawfulness of prizes (captured by pirate ships), dealing with salvage claims for wrecks and acting as a judge
.
The earliest record of an appointment was of William Gonson as Vice-Admiral of Norfolk
and Suffolk
in 1536.
From around 1560 Vice-Admirals of the Coasts acquired a more public profile than they had enjoyed previously. In the second half of the sixteenth century they increasingly received orders from the privy council
. In 1561, apparently for the first time, the crown addressed instructions directly to the Vice-Admirals.
There are also a few examples of the title Vice-Admiral of the West
. It is not however clear whether this was a separate appointment or possibly some incorrect use of an older title being applied to the holders of the Cornwall or Devon
post.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the North and South of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, or the four provinces of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
As a Vice-Admiral, the post holder was the chief of naval administration for his district. His responsibilities included pressing men for naval service, deciding the lawfulness of prizes (captured by pirate ships), dealing with salvage claims for wrecks and acting as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
The earliest record of an appointment was of William Gonson as Vice-Admiral of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in 1536.
From around 1560 Vice-Admirals of the Coasts acquired a more public profile than they had enjoyed previously. In the second half of the sixteenth century they increasingly received orders from the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. In 1561, apparently for the first time, the crown addressed instructions directly to the Vice-Admirals.
There are also a few examples of the title Vice-Admiral of the West
Vice-Admiral of the West
The historical title Vice-Admiral of the West is sometimes applied to holders of the crown appointment Vice-Admiral of the Coast of counties in the South West of England....
. It is not however clear whether this was a separate appointment or possibly some incorrect use of an older title being applied to the holders of the Cornwall or Devon
Vice-Admiral of Devon
This is a list of people who have been Vice-Admiral of Devon. Between 1603 and 1623, a separate command existed for North Devon.-Vice-Admirals of Devon:*George Basset 1558*John Courtenay 1558–1560 with*Robert Yeo 1558–1560*George Basset 1560...
post.
England
- Vice-Admiral of CheshireVice-Admiral of CheshireThis is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Cheshire.*Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby bef. 1569–1572*Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby 1573–1593*Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby 1593–1594*vacant...
- Vice-Admiral of CornwallVice-Admiral of CornwallThis is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Cornwall. This vice-admiralty jurisdiction was divided into North and South Cornwall between 1601 and 1715, with a separate vice-admiral for each; in addition, two members of the Godolphin family were vice-admirals of the Isles of Scilly...
(including the Scilly Isles) - Vice-Admiral of CumberlandVice-Admiral of CumberlandThis is a list of people who have been Vice-Admiral of Cumberland.*Reginald Beseley 1559–1563*Thomas Willson 1563–1569?*Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon 1586 – aft...
- Vice-Admiral of DevonVice-Admiral of DevonThis is a list of people who have been Vice-Admiral of Devon. Between 1603 and 1623, a separate command existed for North Devon.-Vice-Admirals of Devon:*George Basset 1558*John Courtenay 1558–1560 with*Robert Yeo 1558–1560*George Basset 1560...
- Vice-Admiral of Dorset
- Vice-Admiral of DurhamVice-Admiral of DurhamThis is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Durham.*1559: Reginald Beseley*1559–63: Vacant*1563: William Eure, 2nd Baron Eure*1563–1568: Vacant*1568: Valentine Browne*1568–1575: Vacant...
- Vice-Admiral of Essex
- Vice-Admiral of Gloucester
- Vice-Admiral of Hampshire (including the Isle of WightIsle of WightThe Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
) - Vice-Admiral of Kent
- Vice-Admiral of LancashireVice-Admiral of LancashireThis is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Lancashire.*Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby bef. 1569–1572*Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby 1573–1593*Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby 1593–1594*vacant...
- Vice-Admiral of Lincolnshire
- Vice-Admiral of Norfolk
- Vice-Admiral of Northumberland
- Vice-Admiral of Somerset
- Vice-Admiral of Suffolk
- Vice-Admiral of Sussex
- Vice-Admiral of Westmorland
- Vice-Admiral of Yorkshire
Scotland
- Vice-Admiral of Scotland
- Vice-Admiral of Orkney and Shetland
- Vice-Admiral of the Western Coast
Ireland
- Vice-Admiral of Ireland
- Vice-Admiral of Connaught
- Vice-Admiral of Leinster
- Vice-Admiral of Munster
- Vice-Admiral of Ulster