Third Sea Lord

The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was an officer of the Royal Navy with a position on the Board of Admiralty with responsibility for procuring and equipping the fleet. The position had a complicated history. Prior to 1868 the Third Sea Lord was a member of the Board of Admiralty and the Controller of the Navy was a subordinate official. In 1868 the Second Sea Lord was abolished and the Controller took his place on the Board as Third Lord and Controller, with the Fourth Sea Lord technically becoming Third Sea Lord with the title Junior Naval Lord. In 1872 the office of Second Sea Lord was restored, the Controller left the Board and the Junior Naval Lord remained designated as such. In 1882 the Controller again returned to the Board, this time as Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy, renamed Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in 1904. In 1912 many of his administrative duties were given to a new Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty, and the title became Third Sea Lord, with Controller of the Navy abolished. A new office of Controller was created for a civilian in 1917, the same year that Third Sea Lord was renamed Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Materiel. The Controllership was merged with Third Sea Lord in 1918, once more becoming Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy.

History of Controller of the Navy

See also: Instructions for the Controller of the Navy

The office of Surveyor of the Navy had been one of the five Principal Officers of the Civil Departments of the Navy. By Order in Council of 23 January, 1860, the title of Surveyor of the Navy was changed to Comptroller of the Navy. In spite of the wording of the Order in Council the title was being rendered as Controller of the Navy within a month.

History of the Third Sea Lord

The pay of the Third Sea Lord until 1868 had been £1,000. As the distributions of business indicate he had responsibility for varying details of administration which would tend to change depending on the talents of the office holder.

Controller on the Board

At the end of 1868, formalised by Order in Council of 14 January, 1869, the Third Sea Lord technically disappeared entirely when the position of Second Sea Lord was abolished, and the Controllership of the Navy became known as the Third Lord and Controller of the Navy:

The Controller of the Navy being, as we have proposed, the Third Lord, to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the administration of so much of the business as relates to the "Matériel" of Your Majesty's Navy, i.e., to the Building and Repairing of Ships, to Guns and to Naval Stores.

He and the First Naval Lord received £1,500 per annum, with residence, "to mark the special responsibilities" of their office (a 50% pay increase for the First Naval Lord).

Under the Order in Council of 19 March, 1872, it was laid down "That the office of Comptroller of the Navy be re-established, as an office to be held for a fixed period by an Officer not a member of the Board". His duties were defined:

The Comptroller to be responsible to the First Lord for the administration of so much of the business as relates to the Matériel of Your Majesty's Navy, the Comptroller to have the right to attend the Board, and to explain his views, whenever the First Lord shall submit to the Board, for their opinion, designs for ships or any other matters emanating from the Comptroller's Department.

The office of Second Naval Lord was restored, and technically a Third Sea Lord existed in the form of the Junior Naval Lord. Under the Order in Council of 10 May, 1872, the salary of the "Controller" was fixed at "1,500l. a-year, with a house or an allowance of 200l. a-year in lieu." By Order in Council of 9 August, 1872, naval half pay was added to this.

This state of affairs continued for a decade, until 1882, when the Admiralty obtained the Order in Council of 10 March, 1882 which decreed, inter alia, "That the officer filling the post of Comptroller of Your Majesty's Navy may, notwithstanding the said Order in Council [of 19 March, 1872], be appointed an additional Naval Lord of the Admiralty." In a distribution of business of 24 April of that year he is styled as Controller of the Navy, but as the Junior Naval Lord retained his title the Controller was already in effect Third Sea Lord. In subsequent distributions of business he was styled as Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy.

Under the Order in Council of 10 August, 1904, his title was altered to Third Sea Lord and Controller. By Order in Council of 21 December, 1906, the emoluments of his office were raised from £1,500 a year to £1,750 a year, in addition to Naval Half Pay. The Controller then became £250 a year better off than the Second Sea Lord.

The title of Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was changed to Third Sea Lord with effect from 12 June, 1912, under the Order in Council of 19 July, 1912. In September he was formally relieved of duties relating to contracts, finances and dockyard management, which were allocated to the Additional Civil Lord, who had been appointed in January. The office of Third Sea Lord received the designation Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Materiel by Order in Council of 23 October, 1917. The office of Controller (created in 1917) was merged with that of Third Sea Lord on 25 June, 1918, and became once again Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy by Order in Council of that date.

Duties

21 June, 1844.

The 3rd Sea Lord conducts the Store Department at Somerset House. He provides, in conjunction with the 1st, all Stores & Supplies for the Dockyards both at Home & Abroad, & for the Fleet in Commission, as well as for the Line of Battle Ships, Frigates, & Steamers ordered from time to time to be brought forward as Advanced Ships, at the several Out-Ports. He likewise superintends all matters relative to the Affairs at Greenwich Hospital, & decides upon all claims for Greenwich Pensions &c. The Storekeeper General (Mr Dundas) is under the immediate control of the 3rd Sea Lord.

July, 1866.
Medical Department.
Hospitals and Hospital Ships.
Appointment of Medical Officers.
Hydrographic Department.
Pensions.
Greenwich Hospital, as regards Officers and Men.
Prize and Admiralty Courts.
General Salvage Questions.
Collisions at Sea.
Full Pay of Officers and Seamen.
Officers' Table Money.
Officers' Half-Pay of All Ranks.
Officers' Debts.
Allowances for Lodging and Travelling.
Compensation for Losses by Officers and Seamen.
Compassionate Fund.
Charitable Institutions.
Good Conduct Medals.
Human Society's Medals.
Removal of R.
Pirates—Bounty.
Pilotage.

December, 1868.
As Third Lord and Controller.
Steam Reserve.
Dockyards.
Dockyard Craft.
Shipbuilding.
Constructor's Department.
Inventions and Experiments in Steam and Ships.
Gunnery and Returns.
Store Department.
Appointments of Engineers.

24 April, 1882.
Duties shared with Additional Civil Lord.
1.—Dockyards.
2.—Steam Reserves.—as regard Ships.
3.—Ship-building.
4.—Constructor's Department.
5.—Store Department.
6.—Dock-yard Craft.
7.—Inventions and Experiments in Ships and Steam.
8.—Gunnery as relates to Materiel.
9.—Promotions and transfers of Professional Officers and Workmen in the Dockyards.

7 July, 1885.
1.—Dockyards.
2.—Steam Reserves—as regards Matériel.
3.—Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4.—Purchase and disposal of Ships.
5.—Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6.—Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo Matériel, &c.
7.—Models at Greenwich.
8.—Dockyard Craft, Personnel and Matériel.
9.—Dockyard Police.
10.—Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11.—Electric Lights.
12.—Ordnance and Torpedo Matériel and Stores.
13.—Gun Mountings.
14.—Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
15.—Moorings.
16.—Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.
17.—Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.

December, 1888.
1.—Dockyards.
2.—Steam Reserves—as regards Matériel.
3.—Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4.—Purchase and disposal of Ships.
5.—Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6.—Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo Matériel, &c.
7.—Models at Greenwich.
8.—Dockyard Craft, Personnel and Matériel.
9.—Dockyard Police.
10.—Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11.—Electric Lights.
12.—Naval Ordnance Department (including Torpedoes)—matériel and Stores.
13.—Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
14.—Moorings.
15.—Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.
16.—Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.
17.—Armed Cruisers—Engagement of.

1890.
1. Dockyards.
2. Steam Reserves—as regards matériel.
3. Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4. Purchase of Ships.
5. Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6. Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo matériel, &c.
7. Models at Greenwich.
8. Dockyard Craft, personnel and matériel.
9. Dockyard Police.
10. Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11. Electric Lights.
12. Naval Ordnance Department (including Torpedoes)—matériel and Stores.
13. Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
14. Moorings.
15. Royal Corps of Naval Constructors—Promotions, Transfers and Leave (except Promotion of Officers above rank of Constructor).
16. Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.
17. Armed Cruisers—Engagement and Fitting of.

16 April, 1908.
1.—The entire administration of the Dockyards and Dockyard Reserve, Dockyard Craft, control of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Dockyards, Superintendent of Contract Work, Naval Stores, and Expense Accounts; also control of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, and of all Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, Subordinate Officers, and Workmen (except promotion of Officers above the rank of Constructor).
2.—Naval and Technical Inspecting Staff at Contractors' Works.
3.—Naval Ordnance Questions affecting Construction of Ships or involving Structural Alterations in Weights, &c.
4.—Purchase, disposal, salvage, or loan of Vessels, and engagement and fitting of Armed Merchant Cruisers.
5.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
6.—Electric Lighting and Yard Machinery of all Departments, &c., other than those controlled by the Fourth Sea Lord.
7.—Naval Stores for building and repair of Ships and for maintenance of Dockyards, including moorings.

August, 1912.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Superintendent of Equipment and Refits, Director of Air Department, and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
4.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

7 September, 1912.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Director of Naval Equipment, Director of Air Department, and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
4.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

August, 1916.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Programme of new construction and repairs in H.M. Dockyards and Contractors' Yards, and questions relating to order of priority of work. Important questions arising in connection with repairs of ships and progress in new construction and repairs (see Note under Additional Civil Lord). Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Director of Naval Equipment, Director of Air Services and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Selection of vessels for service as Armed Merchant Cruisers or for combatant purposes, and all technical questions in regard to fitting the same (except Yacht and Motor Boat Patrol, dealt with by Fourth Sea Lord).
4.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
5.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

June, 1917.
Types and quantities of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their machinery, armour, guns and gun mountings, torpedoes, mines, &c., and their respective appliances and stores, also docking facilities.
Design of Matériel as above, including important alterations and additions to completed ships which affect their fighting and sea-going qualities (in conjunction with Controller).
Order of priority of work upon ships for Naval Service, including both new construction and repairs and alterations (in conjunction with Controller).
Selection of vessels for service as Armed Merchant Cruisers or for Fleet purposes as regards general suitability for the Service (in conjunction with Controller).
Inventions relating to ships and other Matériel as above—questions as to their suitability and applicability to the Naval Service.
Salvage Service.
NOTE.—The Heads of the Departments dealing with the above questions will continue under the superintendence of the Third Sea Lord for these purposes. The Director of Naval Equipment and Director of Compasses will work jointly under the Third Sea Lord and Controller.

Third Sea Lords and Controllers (–1868)

Third Sea Lord (1866–1868)

• Rear-Admiral George H. Seymour, 13 July, 1866 – 18 December, 1868

Controller of the Navy (1848–1868)

• Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, Bart., 27 November, 1848
• Vice-Admiral Sir R. Spencer Robinson, 6 February, 1861

Third Lord and Controller of the Navy (1868–1872)

• Vice-Admiral Sir R. Spencer Robinson, 18 December, 1868 – 14 February, 1871
• Captain Robert Hall, 14 February, 1871 – 19 April, 1872

Controller of the Navy (1872–1882)

• Captain Robert Hall, 19 April, 1872
• Admiral Sir W. Houston Stewart, 29 April, 1872
• Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 1 December, 1881

Additional Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy (1882–1904)

• Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 18 April, 1882 – 4 January, 1886
• Vice-Admiral Sir William Graham, 4 January, 1886 – 6 August, 1888
• Vice-Admiral John O. Hopkins, 6 August, 1888 – 1 February, 1892
• Vice-Admiral Sir John A. Fisher, 1 February, 1892 – 23 August, 1897
• Rear-Admiral Arthur K. Wilson, 23 August, 1897 – 15 April, 1901
• Rear-Admiral Sir William H. May, 15 April, 1901 – 7 February, 1905

Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1904–1912)

• Rear-Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, 7 February, 1905
• Rear-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 16 October, 1908^{[Citation needed]} – December, 1910
• Rear-Admiral Charles J. Briggs, 20 December, 1910 – 11 June, 1912

Third Sea Lord (1912–1918)

• Rear-Admiral A. Gordon H. W. Moore, 29 May, 1912
• Rear-Admiral Frederick C. T. Tudor, 11 August, 1914 – 1 June, 1917
• Rear-Admiral Lionel Halsey, 31 May, 1917 – 17 June, 1918

Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1918–)

• Rear-Admiral Charles Bartolomé, 17 June, 1918 – 31 June, 1919
• Rear-Admiral Sir William C. M. Nicholson, 1 July, 1919 – 15 April, 1920
• Vice-Admiral (Acting) Sir Frederick L. Field, 15 April, 1920 – 15 May, 1923
• Rear-Admiral Cyril T. M. Fuller, 15 May, 1923 – 30 April, 1925
• Rear-Admiral Sir A. Ernle M. Chatfield, 30 April, 1925 – 1 November, 1928
• Vice-Admiral Roger R. C. Backhouse, 1 November, 1928 – March, 1932
• Vice-Admiral Charles M. Forbes, 1 March, 1932
• Admiral Sir Reginald G. H. Henderson, 23 April, 1934 – 1 March, 1939
• Vice-Admiral sir Bruce A. Fraser, 1 March, 1939 – 22 May, 1942
• Vice-Admiral Sir William F. Wake-Walker, 1942 – 1945
• Vice-Admiral Sir Charles S. Daniel, late 1945 – 9 May, 1949
• Admiral Sir Michael M. Denny, 9 May, 1949 – March, 1953
• Admiral Sir Ralph A. B. Edwards, 1953 – 1956
• Admiral Sir John P. L. Reid, 1956 – 1961

Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord (and Controller of the Navy)

Dates of appointment given:

• Captain John R. Jellicoe, 26 March, 1902 – 12 August, 1903
• Captain Arthur C. Leveson, 12 August, 1903 – 7 February, 1905
• Captain Charles E. Madden, 7 February, 1905 – 20 December, 1905
• Captain Alexander L. Duff, 20 December, 1905 – 5 January, 1909
• Captain Dudley R. S. de Chair, 5 January, 1909 – 27 July, 1911
• Captain W. Reginald Hall, 27 July, 1911 – 1 July, 1913
• Rear-Admiral Clement Greatorex, 1 July, 1913 – 8 October, 1917

Bibliography

• Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1929). The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. Its Work and Development. B.R. 1845 (late C.B. 3013). Copy No. 8 at The National Archives. ADM 234/434.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. II. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1864.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. III. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1873.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. IV. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1884.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. IX. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1908.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. X. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1914.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. 11th February 1913 to 21 December 1917. Vol. XI. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1921.
• The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. XII. London: For His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1926.