Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
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The title is one of the higher honours bestowed by the Sovereign; it has often been held by members of the Royal Family or prime ministers, especially those who have been influential at times of war.

The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is a ceremonial official in the United Kingdomone. The post dates from at least the 12th century, when the title was Keeper of the Coast, but may be older. The Lord Warden was originally in charge of the Cinque Ports, a group of five (cinque in Norman French) port towns on the southeast coast of England that was formed to collectively supply ships for The Crown in the absence at the time of a formal navy. Today the role is a sinecure and an honorary title, and fourteen towns belong to the Cinque Ports confederation.

The title is one of the higher honours bestowed by the Sovereign. The importance of the position can also be seen in the fact that the office was mainly given to members of the royal family and high nobles, and later also to prime ministers, especially those who have been influential in defending Britain at times of war.

Only three of a total of 158 office holders have so far been commoners. The transfer is for life.

Office Holders

19th century

• Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool 1806–1827
• Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington 1829–1852
• James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie 1853–1860
• Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston 1860–1865
• Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville 1865–1891 (not installed?)
• William Henry Smith 1891 (not installed?)
• Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava 1892–1895
• Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury 1895–1903

20th century

• George Curzon, 1st Baron Curzon of Kedleston 1905
• The Prince George, Prince of Wales 1905–1907
• Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey 1908–1913
• William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp 1913–1934
• Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading 1934–1935
• Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon 1936–1941
• Sir Winston Churchill 1941–1965 (Installed August 1946)
• Sir Robert Menzies 1965–1978 (Installed July 1966)
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother 1978–2002 (Installed August 1979)

21st century

• Admiral of the Fleet Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce gazetted 10 December 2004,

 

An Office Holder on Wikispooks

Name	From
Michael Boyce	12 April 2005

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