Admiralty in the 17th century

Admiralty and Marine Affairs Office
Office overview
Formed	1414
Preceding Office	Offices of the Kings Marine;
Dissolved	1707
Superseding Office	Admiralty Department;
Jurisdiction	Parliament of England
Headquarters	Admiralty Building; Whitehall; London; Kingdom of England
Office executive	Lord High Admiral of England;
Parent Office	Privy Council of England

During the early 17th century, England's relative naval power deteriorated; in the course of the rest of the 17th century, the office of the Admiralty and Marine Affairs steered the Navy's transition from a semi-amateur Navy Royal fighting in conjunction with private vessels into a fully professional institution, a Royal Navy. Its financial provisions were gradually regularised, it came to rely on dedicated warships only, and it developed a professional officer corps with a defined career structure, superseding an earlier mix of sailors and socially prominent former soldiers.^[1]

Historical overview

After 1603 the English and Scottish fleets were organized together under James I but the efficiency of the Navy declined gradually, while corruption grew until brought under control in an inquiry of 1618. James concluded a peace with Spain and privateering was outlawed. Between 1618 and 1628, a Navy Commission temporarily replaced the Navy Board, due to misappropriation of public funds by board commissioners. After the inquiry was over the office of the Lord High Admiral (held by the Duke of Buckingham) was restored. However, he was murdered and King Charles I put the office into commission. This led to the creation of a new Board of Admiralty which in its early formation was just the Privy Council in another reincarnation. This in turn also led to the removal of the Admiralty Court from direct control of the Lord High Admiral's. His office was temporarily restored again in 1638, but then put in commission once more after 1679 the Lords Commissioners of Admiralty became the permanent officers responsible for administration of the Navy.

Organization in the seventeenth century

Admiralty of England

Tudor Ensign 1600-1603
Stuart Navy Squadron Ensign 1603-1620
English Navy White Ensign 1620-1707

Commanders-in-chief

Naval Lords of England

Office of the Lord High Admiral of England
- Vice-Admiral of England and Deputy Lord High Admiral
  - Rear-Admiral of England

Civil administration of the Navy

Notes: the Secretary of State England for the period 1628 to 1679 was responsible for all policy decisions and direction on behalf of the government due to a continued state of war.

Board of Admiralty

The Board of Admiralty and the Lord's Commissioners executing the office of the Lord High Admiral^[2]

The Board of Admiralty

First Commissioner and First Lord of the Admiralty

First Lord of the Admiralty, and member of the English government
- Clerk of the Admiralty
  - Messenger of the Admiralty, appointed, 1687^[3]
  - Housekeeper of the Admiralty appointed (1687 – 1799)
  - Doorkeeper of the Admiralty, 1687^[4]
  - Gardner of the Admiralty appointed (1687 – 1799)

Civil Commissioner

Chief Secretary to the Admiralty (1628 – 1652)
First Secretary to the Admiralty (1652 – 1871)

Naval Commissioner

Naval Lord from (1682 – 1689)
Senior Naval Lord from (1689–1771)

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

91 commissioners served during the 17th century.

Notes: Between 1693 and 1830 the commission always included either 1 or 2 additional naval lords except from 1757 until 1782 when it was just the Senior Naval Lord. After 1830 the Naval Lords are titled, First, Second, Third, Fourth until 1904 when they are re-styled Sea Lord. A junior naval lord is introduced in 1868 until 1903 then is re-styled Fifth Sea Lord from 1917.

Naval operations

Senior leadership

Naval High Command

Office of the Lord High Admiral of England (1600 – 1628)
- Office of the Vice-Admiral of England
  - Office of the Rear-Admiral of England
Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty (1628 – 1964)
- Office of the Naval Lord of the Admiralty*
  - Admiralty Secretariat, (1690-1932) ^[5]
  - Greenwich Hospital
  - Nautical Almanac Office
  - Register office
  - Royal Observatory
  - Sixpenny Office

Fleet commands

Flag officers of the fleet

Flag officers commanding fleets and stations

Flag officer commanding individual fleets and stations

Fleet units

Composition of the Navy between 1649-1690
Type	Number of units ^[14]
Ships of the Line 1st rate	7
Ships of the Line 2nd rate	11
Ships of the Line 3rd rate	40
Ships of the Line 4th rate	19
Ships of the Line 5th-6th rate	26
Captured ships of the line	10
Sloops	22
Armed merchants	29
Flyboats	28
Galliots & hoys	22
Fireships	111
Bomb vessels	17
Hospital ships	4
Yachts	25
In commission	361

Squadrons ^[15]

Red Squadron
White Squadron
Blue Squadron

Administrative and logistical support

Board of ordnance

Principal officers

Board of Ordnance ^[16] (1597 – 1855)

Office of the Board of Ordnance
- Master-General of the Ordnance (1597 – 1855)
  - Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance (1597 – 1855)
    - Treasurer of the Ordinance (1597 – 1855)
    - Surveyor-General of the Ordnance (1597 – 1888)
    - Clerk of the Ordnance (1554 – 1853)
    - Storekeeper of the Ordnance (1558 – 1845)
    - Clerk of Deliveries of the Ordnance (1570 – 1812)

Ordnance yards and stores

Home ordinance yards

Gunpowder magazines stores

Tower of London, London (1461 – 1855)
Square Tower, Portsmouth (1584 – 1855)

Navy board

Construction, design, maintenance, supplies

Principal officers

Office of the Navy Board
- Comptroller of the Navy (1597 – 1832)
  - Surveyor of the Navy (1597 – 1832)
  - Treasurer of the Navy (1597 – 1832)^[17]
  - Clerk of the Navy^[18]
  - Surveyor-General Victuals, (1550-1679)
  - Controller of Treasurer Accounts, (1667-1796)
  - Controller of Victualling Accounts, (1667-1796)
  - Controller of Storekeepers Accounts, (1671-1796)
  - Commissioners for Old Accounts, (1686-8)
  - Commissioners for Current Business, (1686-8)
  - Commissioners for Examining Accounts (Incurred), (1688-9)

Subsidiary boards of navy board

Office of the Navy Board
- Sick and Hurt Board (established temporarily in times of war from 1653, placed on a permanent footing from 1715)
- Victualling Board (1683 – 1832)
- Transport Board (1690 – 1724, re-established 1794)

Shore facilities

Note: Dockyards during this period were managed by the commissioners of the Navy Board.

Home naval base and dockyards^[19]

Portsmouth Dockyard (1496 – present)
Woolwich Dockyard (1512 – 1869)
Deptford Dockyard (1513 – 1869)
Erith Dockyard (1514 – 1521), failed yard: due to persistent flooding
Chatham Dockyard (1567 – 1983)
Sheerness Dockyard (1665 – 1957)
Plymouth Dockyard, Plymouth (1690 – 1824)

Oversea bases and dockyards

Jamaica Dockyard, Port Royal, Jamaica (1675 – 1905)

Judicial administration

Note:Admiralty Courts date to at least the 1360s, during the reign of Edward III. At that time there were three such Courts, appointed by Admirals responsible for waters to the north, south and west of England. In 1483 these local courts were amalgamated into a single High Court of Admiralty, administered by the Lord High Admiral of England.^[20] The Deputy Lord High Admiral presided over the High Court.

Admiralty courts

Lord High Admiral of England
- Vice Admiral of England and Deputy Lord High Admiral
  - Advocate General to the office of the Lord High Admiral

Legal advisors to the admiralty courts

Office of the Lord High Admiral
- Counsel to the Admiralty,^[21](1673 – 1824), attached originally to the Navy Board
- Solicitor for the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy, appointed (1692 – 1799)

High court of the admiralty

Office of the High Court of the Admiralty Court (1450 – 1875)^[22]^[23]

Vice admiralty courts

The Vice-Admiral of the Coast ^[24] was responsible for the defence of one of the twenty maritime counties of England, the North and South of Wales. As a Vice-Admiral, the post holder was the chief of naval administration for his district. His responsibilities included deciding the outcome of the Prize court (captured by pirate ships), dealing with salvage claims for wrecks, and acting as a judge in relation to maritime issues.

Vice-Admiral Cheshire (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Cornwall (1559 – 1917)
Vice-Admiral Cumberland (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Devon (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Dorset (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Durham (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Essex (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Gloucestershire (1559 – 1835)
Vice-Admiral Hampshire (1558 – 1846)
Vice-Admiral Kent (1558 – 1846)
Vice-Admiral Lancashire (1569 – 1861)
Vice-Admiral Lincolnshire (1565 – 1862)
Vice-Admiral Norfolk (1554 – 1846)
Vice-Admiral Northumberland (1559 – 1847)
Vice-Admiral Somerset (1561 – 1865)
Vice-Admiral Suffolk (1554 – 1947)
Vice-Admiral Sussex (1559 – 1860)
Vice-Admiral Westmorland (1559 – 1802)
Vice-Admiral Yorkshire (1559 – 1860)

Vice Admiralty jurisdictions and prizes abroad

By appointing Vice-Admirals in the colonies, and by constituting courts as Vice-Admiralty Courts, the terminology recognized the existence and superiority of the "mother" court in the United Kingdom. Thus, the "vice" tag denoted that whilst it was a separate court, it was not equal to the "mother" court. In the case of the courts abroad, a right of appeal lay back to the British Admiralty Court, which further reinforced this superiority. In all respects, the court was an Imperial court rather than a local Colonial court.

North America

Vice-Admiral Carolina
Vice-Admiral Maryland
Vice-Admiral Massachusetts
Vice-Admiral New Hampshire
Vice-Admiral New York, including Connecticut
Vice-Admiral Pennsylvania, including Delaware
Vice-Admiral Virginia

West Indies

References

^ Rodger, Safeguard, pp. 395–8; Rodger, Command, pp. 33–55, 95–122Ollard, 1984, ch.16;
^ Sainty, J. C. "Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870". british-history.ac.uk. British History Online, University of London, Institute of Historical Research,1975. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
^ Davies, J. D. (2008). Pepys's Navy Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-89. Seaforth Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-1783830220.
^ Davies, J. D. (2008). Pepys's Navy Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-89. Seaforth Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-1783830220.
^ Ehrman, John (2012). The Navy in the War of William III 1689-1697: Its State and Direction. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN 9781107645110.
^ Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.
^ Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.
^ Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.
^ Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.
^ Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.
^ Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.
^ Nelson, Arthur (2001). The Tudor navy : the ships, men and organisation 1485 - 1603. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780851777856.
^ Stewart, William (2009). Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present. Jefferson, NC, USA: McFarland. p. 181. ISBN 9780786438099.
^ Davies, J.D. (2008). Pepys's navy : ships, men & warfare, 1649-1689. Barnsley: Seaforth Pub. pp. 49–62. ISBN 9781848320147.
^ "Information sheet no 055, Squadron colours" (PDF). nmrn-portsmouth.org.uk. National Museum of the Royal Navy, 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
^ Puddefoot, Geoff (2010). Ready for anything : the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 1905-1950. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 4. ISBN 9781848320741.
^ Sainty, J. C. "Navy Treasurer c. 1546-1836, A provisional list compiled by J C Sainty, January 2003". history.ac.uk. The Institute of Historical Research, University of London, 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
^ Sainty, J. C. "Navy Clerk of the Acts 1546 to 1660". history.ac.uk. The Institute of Historical Research, University of London. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
^ Government of the United Kingdom. "Royal Naval dockyard staff". nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
^ Senior, W. (1924). "The Mace of the Admiralty Court". The Mariner's Mirror. 10 (1): 52. doi:10.1080/00253359.1924.10655256.
^ The Nautical Magazine: A Technical and Critical Journal for the Officers of the Mercantile Marine (14 ed.). James Brown & Son. 1845. p. 609.
^ Sainty, J C. "Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870. Originally published by University of London, London, 1975". british-history.ac.uk. Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Studie, University of London, 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
^ Archives, The National. "High Court of Admiralty - The National Archives". The National Archives. The National Archives. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
^ Baker, Sherston (Dec 20, 2010). Office of vice-admiral of the coast : being some account of that ancient office. [S.l.]: Gale Ecco, Making Of Mode. pp. 1–153. ISBN 9781240154067.

Sources

The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 3 George IV. 1822. London: By His Majesty's Statute and Law Printer. 1822.
Hamilton, Admiral Sir. R. Vesey, G.C.B. (1896). Naval Administration: The Constitution, Character, and Functions of the Board of Admiralty, and of the Civil Departments it Directs. London: George Bell and Sons.
Logan, Karen Dale (1976). The Admiralty: Reforms and Re-organization, 1868-1892. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. University of Oxford.
Miller, Francis H. (1884). The Origin and Constitution of the Admiralty and Navy Boards, to which is added an Account of the various Buildings in which the Business of the Navy has been transacted from time to time. London: For Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Copy in Greene Papers. National Maritime Museum. GEE/19.
Rodger. N.A.M. (1979), The Admiralty (offices of state), T. Dalton, Lavenham, ISBN 978-0900963940.

External links

[1] Rodger, Safeguard, pp. 395–8; Rodger, Command, pp. 33–55, 95–122Ollard, 1984, ch.16;

[2] Sainty, J. C. "Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870". british-history.ac.uk. British History Online, University of London, Institute of Historical Research,1975. Retrieved 3 November 2016.

[3] Davies, J. D. (2008). Pepys's Navy Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-89. Seaforth Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-1783830220.

[4] Davies, J. D. (2008). Pepys's Navy Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-89. Seaforth Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-1783830220.

[5] Ehrman, John (2012). The Navy in the War of William III 1689-1697: Its State and Direction. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN 9781107645110.

[6] Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.

[7] Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.

[8] Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.

[9] Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.

[10] Corbett, Sir Julian Sir Julian (2007). England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power Within the Straits, 1603-1713. Cosimo, Inc. p. 580. ISBN 9781602062672.

[11] Baugh, Daniel A. (2015). British Naval Administration in the Age of Walpole. Princeton University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9781400874637.

[12] Nelson, Arthur (2001). The Tudor navy : the ships, men and organisation 1485 - 1603. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780851777856.

[13] Stewart, William (2009). Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present. Jefferson, NC, USA: McFarland. p. 181. ISBN 9780786438099.

[14] Davies, J.D. (2008). Pepys's navy : ships, men & warfare, 1649-1689. Barnsley: Seaforth Pub. pp. 49–62. ISBN 9781848320147.

[15] "Information sheet no 055, Squadron colours" (PDF). nmrn-portsmouth.org.uk. National Museum of the Royal Navy, 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.

[16] Puddefoot, Geoff (2010). Ready for anything : the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 1905-1950. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 4. ISBN 9781848320741.

[17] Sainty, J. C. "Navy Treasurer c. 1546-1836, A provisional list compiled by J C Sainty, January 2003". history.ac.uk. The Institute of Historical Research, University of London, 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2016.

[18] Sainty, J. C. "Navy Clerk of the Acts 1546 to 1660". history.ac.uk. The Institute of Historical Research, University of London. Retrieved 16 November 2016.

[19] Government of the United Kingdom. "Royal Naval dockyard staff". nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.

[20] Senior, W. (1924). "The Mace of the Admiralty Court". The Mariner's Mirror. 10 (1): 52. doi:10.1080/00253359.1924.10655256.

[21] The Nautical Magazine: A Technical and Critical Journal for the Officers of the Mercantile Marine (14 ed.). James Brown & Son. 1845. p. 609.

[22] Sainty, J C. "Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660-1870. Originally published by University of London, London, 1975". british-history.ac.uk. Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Studie, University of London, 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.

[23] Archives, The National. "High Court of Admiralty - The National Archives". The National Archives. The National Archives. Retrieved 16 January 2017.

[24] Baker, Sherston (Dec 20, 2010). Office of vice-admiral of the coast : being some account of that ancient office. [S.l.]: Gale Ecco, Making Of Mode. pp. 1–153. ISBN 9781240154067.

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v t e Department of Admiralty
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs	Office of First Lord of the Admiralty and President of the Board of Admiralty Lord High Admirals Council Admiralty buildings
Boards and offices under the First Lord	Board of Admiralty Navy Board Navy Office Navy Pay Office Office of the Naval Secretary Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord Office of the Senior Naval Lord Office of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff	Office of the Senior Naval Lord Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord
Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord	Office of the Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Office of the Additional Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Office of the Hydrographer of the Navy Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty Navy War Council Admiralty War Staff Admiralty Naval Staff
Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements	Admiralty Navy War Council Admiralty War Staff Admiralty Naval Staff
Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff	Administrative Planning Department Administrative Planning Division Air Division Anti-Submarine Division Anti-Submarine and Warfare Division Anti-U-boat Division Air Warfare Division Air Warfare and Fly Training Division Air Warfare and Training Division Combined Operations Division Communications Division Convoy Section Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) Economic Warfare Division Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare Division Gunnery Division Gunnery and Torpedo Division Historical Section Local Defence Division Division Mercantile Movements Division Naval Air Division Naval Air Organisation and Training Division Naval Artillery and Torpedoes Division Navigation and Direction Division Navigation Division Minesweeping Division Mobilisation Division Naval Intelligence Division Operations Division Operations Division (Home) Operations Division (Foreign) Operations Division (Mining) Plans Division Plans Division (Q) Press Division Signal Division Signal Section Standardisation Division Tactical Division Tactical and Weapons Policy Division Torpedo Division Torpedo, Anti-Submarine and Minewarfare Division Trade Division Trade and Operations Division Training and Staff Duties Division Tactical and Staff Duties Division Undersurface Warfare Division
Offices of the Sea Lords	Office of the Second Sea Lord Office of the Third Sea Lord Office of the Fourth Sea Lord Office of the Fifth Sea Lord
Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords	Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board
Direction/Command of the Fleet	Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord Admiralty Naval Staff
Naval formations after 1707	1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Naval formations before 1707	Lisbon Station West Indies Station Western Squadron Thames, Medway and Nore Commander-in-Chief, Thames Narrow Seas Downs Station
Direction of Naval Finance	Department of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty
Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary	Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty Accountant-General's Department Comptroller of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of the Navy
Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat	Department of the Permanent Secretary
Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary	Admiralty Central Copying Branch Admiralty Central Registry Branch Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Library Admiralty Secretariat Air Branch Civil Branch Legal Branch Military Branch Naval Branch Ship Branch
Civil Administration	Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Department of the Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty
Departments under the Civil Lords	Accountant-General's Department Contract and Purchase Department Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Director of Works Greenwich Hospital Department Works Loan Department
Legal	Admiralty Judicial Department Admiralty court High Court of Admiralty Office of the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty High Court of Justice Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Marshall High Court of the Admiralty Office of the Admiralty Advocate Office of the Admiralty Proctor Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate Office of the Counsel for the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty Office of the Deputy Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Receiver of Droits High Court of Admiralty Office of the Registrar High Court of the Admiralty Office of the Solicitor for the Affairs of the Admiralty Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty and Navy Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty Court of Admiralty for the Cinque Ports King's Bench Division (Admiralty) Queens's Bench Division (Admiralty) Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division Vice Admiralty courts Colonial Courts of Admiralty

v t e Board of Admiralty
Ministerial Lords	Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty and President of the Board (1628–1964)
Naval Lords	Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) First Naval Lord (1771–1904) First Sea Lord (1904–1917) First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1917–1964) Second Naval Lord (1830–1869, 1872–1904) Second Sea Lord (1904–1917) Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel (1917–1964) Third Naval Lord (1832–1858) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Third Naval Lord and Controller (1869–1872) Controller of the Navy (1872–1882) Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy (1882–1904) Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1904–1912) Third Sea Lord (1912–1917) Controller of the Navy (1917–1918) Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Matériel (1918–1965) Junior Naval Lord (1868–1904) Fourth Sea Lord (1904–1917) Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport (1917–1955) Fifth Sea Lord (1917) Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Service (1917–1956)
Staff Naval Lords	Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1917–1919) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1942–1946)
Civil Lords	Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1830–1964) Accountant-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of Victualling (1832–1869) Director-General of the Medical Department (1832–1869) Storekeeper-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Surveyor of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1882–1885) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1912–1917) Second Civil Lord (1918–1919) Third Civil Lord (1918–1919) Fourth Civil Lord (1918–1919)
Civil Secretaries	Secretaries to the Lords Admiral, Admiralty, Committees and Commissions (1625–1660) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1660–1763) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1763–1871) Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1871–1886) Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (1886–1959) Joint-Deputy Secretary to the Admiralty (1702–1766) Second Secretary to the Admiralty (1783–1857) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1869–1872) Naval Secretary to the Board of Admiralty (1872–1882) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1882–1964)

v t e Navy Board
Principal officers	Lieutenant of the Admiralty, (1546-1564) Treasurer of Marine Causes, (1546-1564) Comptroller of the Navy, (1546-1660) Surveyor of the Navy, (1546-1832) Clerk of the Navy, (1546-1660) Master of Naval Ordnance, (1546-1589) Keeper of the Storehouses, (1546-1560) Surveyor of Marine Victuals, (1550-1679) Treasurer of the Navy and Senior Commissioner, (1564-1660) Comptroller of the Navy and Chairman of the Board, (1660-1832) Treasurer of the Navy, (1660-1832) Clerk of the Acts, (1660-1796) Controller of Treasurer Accounts, (1667-1796) Controller of Victualling Accounts, (1667-1796) Controller of Storekeepers Accounts, (1671-1796) Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services, (1800-1832) Commissioners for Current Business, (1686-1688) Commissioners for Old Accounts, 1686-1688) Commissioners for Examining Accounts (Incurred), (1688-1689) Deputy Comptroller of the Navy, (1793-1813), (1829-1832) Pay Commissioner, (1796-1814) Civil Architect and Engineer of the Navy, (1808-1812) Surveyor of Buildings, (1813-1832) Surveyor of Dockyards, (1813-1832) Accountant-General of the Navy, (1829-32) Superintendent of Transport, (1829-1831) Storekeeper-General of the Navy, (1829-32)
Subsidiary boards	Sick and Hurt Board Transport Board Victualling Board
Resident Commissioners of the navy home yards	Resident Commissioner, Chatham Dockyard, (1631-1829) Resident Commissioner, Portsmouth Dockyard, (1649-1829) Resident Commissioner, Woolwich Dockyard,(1688-1828) Resident Commissioner, Plymouth Dockyard, (1691-1822) Resident Commissioner, Deptford Dockyard, (1714-1823) Resident Commissioner, Sheerness Dockyard, (1793-1822) Resident Commissioner, Devonport Dockyard, (1823-1832)
Resident Commissioners of the navy overseas yards	Resident Commissioner, Jamaica Yard, (1675-1832) Resident Commissioner, Cadiz Yard, (1694) Resident Commissioner, Bombay Yard Resident Commissioner, Kinsale Yard, (1694-1713) Resident Commissioner, Gibraltar Yard, (1704-1832) Resident Commissioner, Antigua Yard, (1707-1832) Resident Commissioner, Ascension Yard, (1728-1832) Resident Commissioner, Port Mahon Yard, (1742-1763) Resident Commissioner, Halifax Yard, (1759-1832) Resident Commissioner, Barbados Yard, (1779-1783, 1810) Resident Commissioner, Kingston Yard, (1783-1832) Resident Commissioner, Ajaccio Yard, (1794-1799) Resident Commissioner, Bermuda Dockyard, (1795-1832) Resident Commissioner, Amherstburg Yard, (1796-1813) Resident Commissioner, Quebec Yard, (1804-1826) Resident Commissioner, Malta Dockyard, (1805-1832) Resident Commissioner, Madras Yard, (1808-1817) Resident Commissioner, Cape of Good Hope Yard, (1808-1822) Resident Commissioner, Bombay Dockyard, (1808-1816) Resident Commissioner, Trincomalee Dockyard, (1810-1832)
Offices under the principal officers	Navy Office Navy Pay Office Sick and Hurt Office Transport Office Victualling Office

Historical overview

Organization in the seventeenth century

Admiralty of England

Commanders-in-chief

Naval Lords of England

Civil administration of the Navy

Board of Admiralty

Naval operations

Senior leadership

Fleet commands

Flag officers commanding fleets and stations

Home commands

Shore commands

Overseas commands

Fleet units

Administrative and logistical support

Board of ordnance

Principal officers

Ordnance yards and stores

Navy board

Principal officers

Subsidiary boards of navy board

Shore facilities

Judicial administration

Admiralty courts

High court of the admiralty

Vice admiralty courts

See also

References

Sources

External links