Lord-Lieutenant

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Image:United-Kingdom-Lord-Lieutenant.svg The title Lord-Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives around the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually some retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post honorarily.

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Origins

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England and Wales

Lieutenants were first appointed to a number of English counties by Henry VIII in the 1540s, when the military functions of the sheriff were handed over to him. He raised and was responsible for the efficiency of the local militia units of the county, and afterwards of the yeomanry, and volunteers. He was Commander of these forces, whose officers he appointed. These commissions were originally of temporary duration, and only when the situation required the local militia to be specially supervised and well prepared — often where invasion by Scotland or France might be expected.

Lieutenancies became more organised in the reign of his successor Edward VI, their establishment being approved by the English parliament in 1550. However, it was not until the threat of invasion by the forces of Spain in 1585 that lieutenants were appointed to all counties and counties corporate. Following the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the need for lieutenants was reduced — and the lieutenancies of some counties were left vacant in the 1590s. (The lord lieutenant of a county, in England and Wales and in Ireland, was the principal officer of a county. His creation dates from the reign of Henry VIII, or, according to some, Edward VI.)

The three ridings of Yorkshire each got their own.

The official title of the office at this time was His or Her Majesty's lieutenant for the county, but as almost all office-holders were peers they were referred to as "lord-lieutenant".

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Ireland

An Act to make the Militia of this Kingdom more useful (Geo 2, C.9) was passed by the Parliament of Ireland in 1715. This provided for the issuing of commissions to appoint persons as "his Majesty's lieutenant or lieutenants, governor or governors, and commissioners of array for the several and respective counties, cities, and places of Ireland". The lieutenants were empowered to embody militia regiments.

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Scotland

Although lieutenants were appointed to a few counties from about 1715, it was not until 1794 that permanent lieutenancies were established by Royal Warrant. By the Militia Act 1797 (37 Geo.3, C.103), the lieutenants appointed "for the Counties, Stewartries, Cities, and Places" were given powers to raise and command county militia units.

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The Nineteenth Century

The Regulation of Forces Act 1871 removed the lord-lieutenant as head of the county militia, as the jurisdiction, duties and command exercised by the lord lieutenant were revested in the crown, but the power of recommending for first appointments was reserved to the lord lieutenant.

The Militia Act 1882 revested the jurisdiction of the lieutenants in the crown.

The lieutenancies were reestablished on a new basis by Section 29 of the 1882 Act which stated that "Her Majesty shall from time to time appoint lieutenants for the several counties in the United Kingdom". Counties for lieutenancy purposes were also redefined and greatly reduced in number, with the lieutenancies for the majority of counties corporate in England to be held jointly with their associated county. The Constable of the Tower of London and the Warden of the Cinque Ports were to continue to be the lord-lieutenants for the Tower Hamlets and Cinque Ports respectively, which were to be regarded as counties for lieutenancy purposes.

From 1889 lieutenancy counties in England and Wales were to correspond to groupings of administrative counties and county boroughs established by the Local Government Act 1888. The creation of a new County of London also led to the ending of the Tower Hamlets lieutenancy.

The office of lord lieutenant was honorary, and held during the royal pleasure, but virtually for life. Appointment to the office is by letterspatent under the great seal. Usually, though not necessarily, the person appointed lord lieutenant was also appointed custos rotulorum. Appointments to the county bench of magistrates were usually made on the recommendation of the lord lieutenant.

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The Twentieth Century

The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, C.9) established County Territorial Force Associations, of which the lord-lieutenant was to be head, styled president of the county association. It restated the combination of counties and county corporates as lieutenancy counties and extinguished the lieutenancy of the Cinque Ports.

In 1921, with the establishment of Northern Ireland, lord-lieutenants continued to be appointed through the Governor of Northern Ireland to the six counties. Lieutenancies were also established for the province's two county boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry. The creation of the Irish Free State in the following year saw the remaining county lieutenancies in Ireland abolished.

Local Government reform in England in 1965 led to the appointment of lord-lieutenants to Greater London and Huntingdon and Peterborough, and the abolition of those of the County of London, Middlesex and Huntingdonshire.

A more fundamental reform of local government throughout England and Wales (outside Greater London) created a new structure of metropolitan, non-metroplitan and Welsh counties in 1974. Section 218 of the Local Government Act 1972 that established the new system stated: "Her Majesty shall appoint a lord-lieutenant for each county in England and Wales and for Greater London..." The Act appears to be the first statutory use of the term "lord-lieutenant" for lieutenants to counties.

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Present Britain

In 1975 counties ceased to be used for local government purposes in Scotland, and since that date lord-lieutenants have been appointed to lieutenancy areas.

Partial reform of local government in England since 1995 has led to the creation of ceremonial counties to which lord-lieutenants are now appointed. Ceremonial counties may contain combinations of county council areas and unitary authorities.

Since 1996 counties have had no administrative function in Wales, and lord-lieutenants are now appointed to preserved counties.

The City of London was unaffected by changes introduced since 1882. It has a Commission of Lieutenancy rather than a single Lord-Lieutenant. The Head of the Commission is the Lord Mayor of London.

Lord-lieutenants are the monarch's representatives in their lieutenancy. It is their foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown, and in so doing they seek to promote a spirit of co-operation and good atmosphere by the time they give to voluntary and benevolent organisations and by the interest they take in the business and social life of their counties.

The modern responsibilities of lord-lieutenants include:

  • Arranging visits of members of the Royal family and escorting Royal visitors;
  • Presentation of medals and awards on behalf of the Sovereign, and advising on Honours nominations;
  • Participation in civic, voluntary and social activities with the Lieutenancy;
  • Liaison with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force and their associated cadet forces;
  • Leading the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace; and
  • Chairing the local Advisory Committee for the Appointment of the General Commissioners of Income Tax, a tribunal which hears appeals against decisions made by the HM Revenue and Customs on a variety of different tax related matters.
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Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the head of the British administration in Ireland until the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

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See also

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Sources and External links

no:Stattholder sv:Lordlöjtnant

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