Presence Chamber: Cupbearers 1660-1782

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

'Presence Chamber: Cupbearers 1660-1782', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 56-58. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp56-58 [accessed 23 April 2024]

Cupbearers 1660–1782

The cupbearers, carvers and sewers were ancient offices whose duties were to serve the king on bended knee when he dined in public. As the Sovereign gradually abandoned this practice between 1685 and 1727, these positions became sinecures. The cupbearers were appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant. In 1660 they were five in number. On the death of Sir William Fleetwood in 1674 they were reduced to four. Three cupbearers were appointed during the reign of James II. From 1689 the number was fixed in principle at four. (fn. 1) The offices were abolished in 1782. (fn. 2) The cupbearers each received wages of £33 6s 8d plus riding wages. (fn. 3)



1660	10 June	Erskine, W.
1660	10 June	Halsall, J.
1660	10 June	Littleton, C.
1660	10 June	Fleetwood, Sir W.
1660	10 June	Palmer. P.
1675	10 Apr.	Pettus, Sir J.
1680	27 Apr.	Trelawny, J.
1682	23 Feb.	Boteler, T.
1685	23 May	Carteret, Sir E.
1689	22 Mar.	Lloyd, E.
1689	1 Oct.	Coling, R.
1689	27 Oct.	Compton, J.
1689	28 Oct.	Boteler, T.
1692	1 Apr.	Tyrrell, J.
1694	30 June	Sedley, Sir C.
1701	1 June	Russell, R.
1702	9 July	Eyre, C.N.
1703	22 May	Luckyn, H.
1711	4 Dec.	Eyre, C.C.
1713	13 Oct.	Littleton, W.
1716	12 Mar.	Boteler, H.
1718	20 May	Bowers, T.
1719	30 Apr.	Green, H.
1722	7 Feb.	Evans, J.
By 1727		Hay, J.
1730	10 Mar.	Clarges, G.
1731	8 Oct.	Duperron, A.
1734	2 Aug.	Hetling, G.
1737	18 June	Collins, C.
1749	14 Dec.	Playters, J.
1750	17 Nov.	Gurdon, W.
1751	27 July	Shaw, F.
1757	7 May	Rideker, G.
1762	13 May	Rivett, F.
1766	21 Aug.	Hetling, W.
1773	18 Oct.	Mathews, P.
1778	1 Feb.	Clarke, W.
1780	19 May	Shirley, Hon. W.
1782	9 Aug.	Snow, J.

Cupbearer in Extraordinary [in Ordinary w/o fee] 1660–?1685



1660	18 Aug.	Flemming, J.
1660	7 Sept.	Bold, P.
1664	21 Dec.	Hyatt, -
1665	22 Oct.	Kinoule, W. H.
1667	13 Apr.	Morton, W.
1668	20 Jan.	Ayreley, W., Earl of
1674	7 Feb.	Trelawney, J.
1674	10 Feb.	Beaumont, J.
1674	18 Feb.	Killigrew, W. (or Carver or Sewer)
1675	5 Feb.	Palmer, R.
1676	15 Feb.	Rouse, E. (or Carver or Sewer)
1676	6 June	Lee, H. (or Carver or Sewer)
1685	13 Jan.	Peachey, W. (or Carver or Sewer)