First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff

First Sea Lord and
Chief of the Naval Staff
Ensign of the British Armed Forces
White Ensign of the Royal Navy
Incumbent
Admiral Sir Ben Key
since 8 November 2021
Ministry of Defence
Royal Navy
TypeNaval officer
StatusMilitary branch chief
Abbreviation1SL/CNS
Member ofDefence Council
Admiralty Board
Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports toChief of the Defence Staff
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerThe Monarch
On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 3–4 years)
FormationSenior Naval Lord (1689–1771)
First Naval Lord (1771–1904)
First Sea Lord (from 1904)
First holderAdmiral Arthur Herbert (as Senior Naval Lord)
Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (as First Sea Lord)
DeputyVice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1946)
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
WebsiteOfficial Website

The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) is a statutory position in the British Armed Forces usually held by a four star admiral. As the highest-ranking officer to serve in the Royal Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on matters pertaining to the navy and a deputy to the Secretary of State for Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council, the prime minister and the monarch. The First Sea Lord is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Royal Navy unless the Chief of the Defence Staff is a naval officer. Admiral Ben Key was appointed First Sea Lord in November 2021.

Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689, the office was re-styled "First Naval Lord" in 1771. The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805, and the title of the office was changed to "First Sea Lord" on the appointment of Sir John "Jackie" Fisher in 1904. Since 1923, the First Sea Lord has been a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; he now sits on the Defence Council and the Admiralty Board.

Responsibilities

The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and a member of the Defence Council. He is responsible to Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service. As a member of the Defence Council, the First Sea Lord supports the Secretary of State in the management and direction of the Armed Forces through prerogative and statutory powers. As a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he advises CDS on maritime strategy and policy. He has a collective responsibility for providing strategic direction to the department, managing performance and ensuring that defence delivers the required outputs.

History

Lords Admiral were appointed from the 15th century; they were later styled Lords High Admiral until the 18th century, and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from the 17th century, as the governors of the English and later British Royal Navy. From 1683 to 1684, there were seven paid Commissioners, and one unpaid supernumerary Commissioner. The number varied between five and seven Commissioners through the 18th century. The standing of all the Commissioners was in theory the same, although the First Commissioner or First Lord exercised an ascendancy over his colleagues from an early date.

The generally recognized office of Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty was established on 8 March 1689, with the first incumbent being Admiral Arthur Herbert; he was also First Lord of the Admiralty. On 20 January 1690 Admiral Herbert was succeeded by Admiral Sir John Chicheley under First Lord of Admiralty Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.

On 22 May 1702 the Board of Admiralty ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced by the Lord Admiral's Council. The previous office of Senior Naval Lord was replaced by a Senior Member to the Lords Admiral Council; he was usually a serving naval officer of Admiral rank and was the Chief Naval Adviser to the Lord Admiral. This lasted until 8 November 1709, when the Board of Admiralty resumed control of Naval Affairs and the post of Senior Naval Lord was resumed.

On 2 February 1771 the office of Senior Naval Lord was renamed to First Naval Lord. The first post holder was Vice-Admiral Augustus Hervey; he first served under First Lord of the Admiralty John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents. On 2 May 1827 the Board of Admiralty once again ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced, until 1828, by a Lord High Admirals Council.

The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904. In 1917 the First Sea Lord was re-styled First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. From 1923 onward, the First Sea Lord was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and from 1923 to 1959, in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff), he served as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces. The title was retained when the Board of Admiralty was abolished in 1964 and the Board's functions were integrated into the Ministry of Defence.

Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on the Defence Council, the Admiralty Board and the Navy Board.

Since 2012, the flagship of the First Sea Lord has nominally been the ship of the line HMS Victory, which used to be Lord Nelson's flagship.

Professional heads of the English/British Armed Forces
Royal Navy British Army Royal Air Force Combined
1645 N/A Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) N/A - No Air Force until 1918 N/A - Inter-service co-ordination carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister
1689 Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771)
1771 First Naval Lord (1771–1904)
1904 First Sea Lord (1904–1917) Chief of the General Staff (1904–1909)
1909 Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964)
1917 First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present)
1918 Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present)
1923 Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (1923–1959, held by one of the service heads until 1956)
1959 Chief of the Defence Staff (1959–present)
1964 Chief of the General Staff (1964–present)

Appointees

The following table lists all those who have held the post of First Sea Lord or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
Senior Naval Lords
1
Arthur Herbert
Herbert, ArthurAdmiral
Arthur Herbert
(c. 1648–1716)
8 March 168920 January 1690318 days
2
Sir John Chicheley
Chicheley, JohnRear-Admiral
Sir John Chicheley
(c. 1640–1691)
20 January 16905 June 1690136 days
3
Edward Russell
Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet
Edward Russell
(1653–1727)
5 June 169023 January 1691232 days
4
Henry Priestman
Priestman, HenryCaptain
Henry Priestman
(c. 1647–1712)
23 January 16912 May 16943 years, 99 days
(3)
The Earl of Orford
Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet
The Earl of Orford
(1653–1727)
2 May 169431 May 16995 years, 29 days
5
Sir George Rooke
Rooke, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir George Rooke
(1650–1709)
31 May 169926 January 17022 years, 240 days
6
Sir John Leake
Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Leake
(1656–1720)
8 November 17094 October 1710330 days
7
Sir George Byng
Byng, GeorgeAdmiral
Sir George Byng
(1663–1733)
4 October 171030 September 17121 year, 362 days
(6)
Sir John Leake
Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Leake
(1656–1720)
30 September 171214 October 17142 years, 14 days
(7)
Sir George Byng
Byng, GeorgeAdmiral
Sir George Byng
(1663–1733)
14 October 171416 April 17172 years, 184 days
8
Matthew Aylmer
Aylmer, MatthewAdmiral of the Fleet
Matthew Aylmer
(c. 1650–1720)
16 April 171719 March 1718337 days
(7)
Sir George Byng
Byng, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir George Byng
(1663–1733)
19 March 171830 September 17213 years, 195 days
9
Sir John Jennings
Jennings, JohnAdmiral
Sir John Jennings
(1664–1743)
30 September 17211 June 17275 years, 244 days
10
Sir John Norris
Norris, JohnAdmiral
Sir John Norris
(c. 1670–1749)
1 June 172713 May 17302 years, 346 days
11
Sir Charles Wager
Wager, CharlesAdmiral
Sir Charles Wager
(1666–1743)
13 May 173023 June 17333 years, 41 days
12
Lord Archibald Hamilton
Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain
Lord Archibald Hamilton
(1673–1754)
23 June 173313 March 17384 years, 263 days
13
Lord Harry Powlett
Powlett, HarryLord Harry Powlett
(1691–1759)
13 March 173819 March 17424 years, 6 days
(12)
Lord Archibald Hamilton
Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain
Lord Archibald Hamilton
(1673–1754)
19 March 174225 March 17464 years, 6 days
14
Lord Vere Beauclerk
Beauclerk, VereAdmiral
Lord Vere Beauclerk
(1699–1781)
25 March 174618 November 17493 years, 238 days
15
The Lord Anson
Anson, GeorgeAdmiral
The Lord Anson
(1697–1762)
18 November 174922 June 17511 year, 216 days
16
Sir William Rowley
Rowley, WilliamAdmiral
Sir William Rowley
(c. 1690–1768)
22 June 175117 November 17565 years, 148 days
17
The Honourable Edward Boscawen
Boscawen, EdwardVice-Admiral
The Honourable Edward Boscawen
(1711–1761)
17 November 17566 April 1757140 days
(16)
Sir William Rowley
Rowley, WilliamAdmiral
Sir William Rowley
(c. 1690–1768)
6 April 17572 July 175787 days
(17)
The Honourable Edward Boscawen
Boscawen, EdwardAdmiral
The Honourable Edward Boscawen
(1711–1761)
2 July 175719 March 17613 years, 260 days
18
The Honourable John Forbes
Forbes, JohnAdmiral
The Honourable John Forbes
(1714–1796)
19 March 176120 April 17632 years, 32 days
19
The Lord Howe
Howe, RichardCaptain
The Lord Howe
(1726–1799)
20 April 176331 July 17652 years, 102 days
20
Sir Charles Saunders
Saunders, CharlesVice-Admiral
Sir Charles Saunders
(c. 1715–1775)
31 July 176515 September 17661 year, 46 days
21
The Honourable Augustus Keppel
Keppel, AugustusRear-Admiral
The Honourable Augustus Keppel
(1725–1786)
15 September 176611 December 176687 days
22
Sir Peircy Brett
Brett, PeircyRear-Admiral
Sir Peircy Brett
(1709–1781)
11 December 176628 February 17703 years, 79 days
23
Francis Holburne
Holburne, FrancisAdmiral
Francis Holburne
(1704–1771)
28 February 17702 February 1771339 days
First Naval Lords
24
Augustus Hervey
Hervey, AugustusCaptain
Augustus Hervey
(1724–1779)
2 February 177112 April 17754 years, 69 days
25
Sir Hugh Palliser
Palliser, HughVice-Admiral
Sir Hugh Palliser
(1723–1796)
12 April 177523 September 17794 years, 164 days
26
Robert Man
Palliser, HughVice-Admiral
Robert Man
23 September 177922 September 1780365 days
27
George Darby
Darby, GeorgeVice-Admiral
George Darby
(c. 1720–1790)
22 September 17801 April 17821 year, 191 days
28
Sir Robert Harland
Harland, RobertAdmiral
Sir Robert Harland
(c. 1715–1784)
1 April 178230 January 1783304 days
29
Hugh Pigot
Pigot, HughAdmiral
Hugh Pigot
(1722–1792)
30 January 178331 December 1783335 days
30
John Leveson-Gower
Leveson-Gower, JohnRear-Admiral
John Leveson-Gower
(1740–1792)
31 December 178312 August 17895 years, 224 days
31
The Lord Hood
Hood, SamuelAdmiral
The Lord Hood
(1724–1816)
12 August 17897 March 17955 years, 207 days
32
Sir Charles Middleton
Middleton, CharlesVice-Admiral
Sir Charles Middleton
(1726–1813)
7 March 179520 November 1795258 days
33
James Gambier
Gambier, JamesVice-Admiral
James Gambier
(1756–1833)
20 November 179519 February 18015 years, 91 days
34
Sir Thomas Troubridge
Troubridge, ThomasRear-Admiral
Sir Thomas Troubridge
(c. 1758–1807)
19 February 180115 May 18043 years, 86 days
(33)
James Gambier
Gambier JamesVice Admiral
James Gambier
(1756–1833)
15 May 180410 February 18061 year, 271 days
35
John Markham
Markham, JohnRear Admiral
John Markham
(1761–1827)
10 February 18066 April 18071 year, 55 days
(33)
James Gambier
Gambier, JamesAdmiral
James Gambier
(1756–1833)
6 April 18079 May 18081 year, 33 days
36
Sir Richard Bickerton
Bickerton, RichardVice Admiral
Sir Richard Bickerton
(1759–1832)
9 May 180825 March 18123 years, 321 days
37
William Domett
Domett, WilliamVice Admiral
William Domett
(1752–1828)
25 March 181223 October 18131 year, 212 days
38
Sir Joseph Yorke
Yorke, JosephVice Admiral
Sir Joseph Yorke
(1768–1831)
23 October 181324 May 18162 years, 214 days
39
Sir Graham Moore
Moore, GrahamVice Admiral
Sir Graham Moore
(1764–1843)
24 May 181613 March 18203 years, 294 days
40
Sir William Johnstone Hope
Johnstone Hope, WilliamVice Admiral
Sir William Johnstone Hope
(1766–1831)
13 March 18202 May 18277 years, 50 days
41
Sir George Cockburn
Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral
Sir George Cockburn
(1772–1853)
19 September 182825 November 18302 years, 67 days
42
Sir Thomas Hardy
Hardy, ThomasRear Admiral
Sir Thomas Hardy
(1769–1839)
25 November 18301 August 18343 years, 249 days
43
The Hon. Sir George Dundas
Dundas, GeorgeRear Admiral
The Hon. Sir George Dundas
(1778–1834)
1 August 18341 November 183492 days
44
Sir Charles Adam
Adam, CharlesRear Admiral
Sir Charles Adam
(1780–1853)
1 November 183423 December 183452 days
(41)
Sir George Cockburn
Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral
Sir George Cockburn
(1772–1853)
23 December 183425 April 1835123 days
(44)
Sir Charles Adam
Adam, CharlesVice Admiral
Sir Charles Adam
(1780–1853)
25 April 18358 September 18416 years, 197 days
(41)
Sir George Cockburn
Cockburn, GeorgeAdmiral
Sir George Cockburn
(1772–1853)
8 September 184113 July 18464 years, 308 days
45
Sir William Parker
Parker, WilliamVice Admiral
Sir William Parker
(1781–1866)
13 July 184624 July 184611 days
(44)
Sir Charles Adam
Adam, CharlesVice Admiral
Sir Charles Adam
(1780–1853)
24 July 184620 July 1847361 days
46
Sir James Dundas
Dundas, JamesRear Admiral
Sir James Dundas
(1785–1862)
20 July 184713 February 18524 years, 208 days
47
The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
Berkeley, MauriceRear Admiral
The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
(1788–1867)
13 February 18522 March 185218 days
48
Hyde Parker
Parker, HydeVice Admiral
Hyde Parker
(1784–1854)
2 March 185226 May 18542 years, 85 days
(47)
The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
Berkeley, MauriceVice Admiral
The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley
(1788–1867)
26 May 185424 November 18572 years, 182 days
48
The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
Dundas, RichardVice Admiral
The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
(1802–1861)
24 November 18578 March 1858104 days
49
Sir William Martin
Martin, WilliamVice Admiral
Sir William Martin
(1801–1895)
8 March 185828 June 18591 year, 112 days
(48)
The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
Dundas, RichardVice Admiral
The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas
(1802–1861)
28 June 185915 June 18611 year, 352 days
50
The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey
Grey, FrederickAdmiral
The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey
(1805–1878)
15 June 186113 July 18665 years, 28 days
51
Sir Alexander Milne
Milne, AlexanderVice Admiral
Sir Alexander Milne
(1806–1896)
13 July 186618 December 18682 years, 158 days
52
Sir Sydney Dacres
Dacres, SydneyAdmiral
Sir Sydney Dacres
(1804–1884)
18 December 186827 November 18723 years, 345 days
(51)
Sir Alexander Milne
Milne, AlexanderAdmiral
Sir Alexander Milne
(1806–1896)
27 November 18727 September 18763 years, 285 days
53
Sir Hastings Yelverton
Yelverton, HastingsAdmiral
Sir Hastings Yelverton
(1808–1878)
7 September 18765 November 18771 year, 59 days
54
Sir George Wellesley
Wellesley, GeorgeAdmiral
Sir George Wellesley
(1814–1901)
5 November 187712 August 18791 year, 280 days
55
Sir Astley Cooper Key
Key, AstleyAdmiral
Sir Astley Cooper Key
(1821–1888)
12 August 18791 July 18855 years, 323 days
56
Sir Arthur Hood
Hood, ArthurAdmiral
Sir Arthur Hood
(1824–1901)
1 July 188515 February 1886229 days
57
Lord John Hay
Hay, JohnAdmiral
Lord John Hay
(1827–1916)
15 February 18869 August 1886175 days
(56)
Sir Arthur Hood
Hood, ArthurAdmiral
Sir Arthur Hood
(1824–1901)
9 August 188624 October 18893 years, 76 days
58
Sir Richard Hamilton
Hamilton, RichardAdmiral
Sir Richard Hamilton
(1829–1912)
24 October 188928 September 18911 year, 339 days
59
Sir Anthony Hoskins
Hoskins, AnthonyAdmiral
Sir Anthony Hoskins
(1828–1901)
28 September 18911 November 18932 years, 34 days
60
Sir Frederick Richards
Richards, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Frederick Richards
(1833–1912)
1 November 189319 August 18995 years, 291 days
61
Lord Walter Kerr
Kerr, WalterAdmiral of the Fleet
Lord Walter Kerr
(1839–1927)
19 August 189921 October 19045 years, 63 days
First Sea Lords
62
Sir John Fisher
Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Fisher
(1841–1920)
21 October 190425 January 19105 years, 96 days
63
Sir Arthur Wilson
Wilson, ArthurAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Arthur Wilson
(1842–1921)
25 January 19105 December 19111 year, 314 days
64
Sir Francis Bridgeman
Bridgeman, FrancisAdmiral
Sir Francis Bridgeman
(1848–1929)
5 December 19119 December 19121 year, 4 days
65
Prince Louis of Battenberg
Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral
Prince Louis of Battenberg
(1854–1921)
9 December 191230 October 19141 year, 325 days
(62)
The Lord Fisher
Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
The Lord Fisher
(1841–1920)
30 October 191415 May 1915197 days
66
Sir Henry Jackson
Jackson, HenryAdmiral
Sir Henry Jackson
(1855–1929)
15 May 191530 November 19161 year, 199 days
67
Sir John Jellicoe
Jellicoe, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Jellicoe
(1859–1935)
30 November 191610 January 19181 year, 41 days
68
Sir Rosslyn Wemyss
Wemyss, RosslynAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Rosslyn Wemyss
(1864–1933)
10 January 19181 November 19191 year, 295 days
69
The Earl Beatty
Beatty, DavidAdmiral of the Fleet
The Earl Beatty
(1871–1936)
1 November 191930 July 19277 years, 271 days
70
Sir Charles Madden
Madden, CharlesAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Charles Madden
(1862–1935)
30 July 192730 July 19303 years, 0 days
71
Sir Frederick Field
Field, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Frederick Field
(1871–1945)
30 July 193021 January 19332 years, 175 days
72
The Lord Chatfield
Chatfield, ErnleAdmiral of the Fleet
The Lord Chatfield
(1873–1967)
21 January 19337 September 19385 years, 229 days
73
Sir Roger Backhouse
Backhouse, RogerAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Roger Backhouse
(1878–1939)
7 September 193812 June 1939278 days
74
Sir Dudley Pound
Pound, DudleyAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Dudley Pound
(1877–1943)
12 June 193915 October 19434 years, 125 days
75
The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Cunningham, AndrewAdmiral of the Fleet
The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
(1883–1963)
15 October 194324 May 19462 years, 221 days
76
Sir John Cunningham
Cunningham, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Cunningham
(1885–1962)
24 May 194629 September 19482 years, 128 days
77
The Lord Fraser of North Cape
Fraser, BruceAdmiral of the Fleet
The Lord Fraser of North Cape
(1888–1981)
29 September 194820 December 19513 years, 82 days
78
Sir Rhoderick McGrigor
McGrigor, RhoderickAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Rhoderick McGrigor
(1893–1959)
20 December 195118 April 19553 years, 119 days
79
The Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral of the Fleet
The Earl Mountbatten of Burma
(1900–1979)
18 April 195519 October 19594 years, 184 days
80
Sir Charles Lambe
Lambe, CharlesAdmiral
Sir Charles Lambe
(1900–1960)
19 October 195923 May 1960217 days
81
Sir Caspar John
John, CasparAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Caspar John
(1903–1984)
23 May 19607 August 19633 years, 76 days
82
Sir David Luce
Luce, DavidAdmiral
Sir David Luce
(1906–1971)
7 August 196315 March 19662 years, 220 days
83
Sir Varyl Begg
Begg, VarylAdmiral
Sir Varyl Begg
(1908–1995)
15 March 196612 August 19682 years, 150 days
84
Sir Michael Le Fanu
Fanu, MichaelAdmiral
Sir Michael Le Fanu
(1913–1970)
12 August 19683 July 19701 year, 325 days
85
Sir Peter Hill-Norton
Hill, PeterAdmiral
Sir Peter Hill-Norton
(1915–2004)
3 July 19709 April 1971280 days
86
Sir Michael Pollock
Pollock, MichaelAdmiral
Sir Michael Pollock
(1916–2006)
9 April 19711 March 19742 years, 326 days
87
Sir Edward Ashmore
Ashmore, EdwardAdmiral
Sir Edward Ashmore
(1919–2016)
1 March 19749 February 19772 years, 345 days
88
Sir Terence Lewin
Lewin, TerenceAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Terence Lewin
(1920–1999)
1 March 19776 July 19792 years, 127 days
89
Sir Henry Leach
Leach, HenryAdmiral
Sir Henry Leach
(1923–2011)
6 July 19791 December 19823 years, 148 days
90
Sir John Fieldhouse
Fieldhouse, JohnAdmiral
Sir John Fieldhouse
(1928–1992)
1 December 19822 August 19852 years, 244 days
91
Sir William Staveley
Staveley, WilliamAdmiral
Sir William Staveley
(1928–1997)
2 August 198525 May 19893 years, 296 days
92
Sir Julian Oswald
Oswald, JulianAdmiral
Sir Julian Oswald
(1933–2011)
25 May 19892 March 19933 years, 281 days
93
Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Bathurst, BenjaminAdmiral
Sir Benjamin Bathurst
(born 1936)
2 March 199310 July 19952 years, 130 days
94
Sir Jock Slater
Slater, JockAdmiral
Sir Jock Slater
(born 1938)
10 July 19958 October 19983 years, 90 days
95
Sir Michael Boyce
Boyce, MichaelAdmiral
Sir Michael Boyce
(1943–2022)
8 October 199816 January 20012 years, 100 days
96
Sir Nigel Essenhigh
Essenhigh, NigelAdmiral
Sir Nigel Essenhigh
(born 1944)
16 January 200117 September 20021 year, 244 days
97
Sir Alan West
West, AlanAdmiral
Sir Alan West
(born 1948)
17 September 20026 February 20063 years, 142 days
98
Sir Jonathon Band
Band, JonathonAdmiral
Sir Jonathon Band
(born 1950)
6 February 200621 July 20093 years, 165 days
99
Sir Mark Stanhope
Stanhope, MarkAdmiral
Sir Mark Stanhope
(born 1952)
21 July 20099 April 20133 years, 262 days
100
Sir George Zambellas
Zambellas, GeorgeAdmiral
Sir George Zambellas
(born 1958)
9 April 20138 April 20162 years, 365 days
101
Sir Philip Jones
Jones, PhilipAdmiral
Sir Philip Jones
(born 1960)
8 April 201619 June 20193 years, 72 days
102
Sir Tony Radakin
Radakin, TonyAdmiral
Sir Tony Radakin
(born 1965)
19 June 20198 November 20212 years, 142 days
103
Sir Ben Key
Key, BenAdmiral
Sir Ben Key
(born 1965)
8 November 2021Incumbent2 years, 17 days

In fiction

In John Buchan's novel The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), the First Sea Lord is named as Lord Alloa, an impostor whom Richard Hannay recognizes at a meeting as a spy and recent pursuer of his. Hannay describes Lord Alloa as recognizable from news pictures for his "beard cut like a spade, the firm fighting mouth, the blunt square nose, and the keen blue eyes...the man, they say, that made the New British Navy". The real First Sea Lord at the time the story is set (early summer 1914) was Prince Louis of Battenberg, coincidentally also bearded.

H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), the operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan, has Sir Joseph Porter KCB as First Sea Lord. The show written and first performed in the late 1870s might be referencing or lampooning as First Sea Lords Sir Alexander Milne (1872–76), Sir Hastings Yelverton (1876-77), or Sir George Wellesley (1877–79).

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-11-28 10:54 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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