The stables: Equerries 1660-1837

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

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'The stables: Equerries 1660-1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 607-611. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp607-611 [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

Equerries 1660–1837

The chief duty of the equerries was 'to attend the King on Horseback, and on all public Occasions'. In fact, by the reign of George I, they rode in the lead coach. In addition, equerries of the crown stable were 'to superintend the Saddle and Manage Stables;...and to instruct the Pages of Honor in Horsemanship'. (fn. 1) The equerries were appointed by royal warrant. During the reign of Charles II their number was fixed in principle at twelve, eight of whom were designated equerries of the hunting stable and four equerries of the crown, great or courser's stable. (fn. 2) During the reign of James II their number was reduced to six, with no distinction made as to function. The distinction returned under William III, when one was designated of the crown stable (see below). In 1760 the number of regular equerries rose to eight. It was reduced to seven in 1767. (fn. 3) In 1783 the office of chief, or first, equerry was created and united to that of clerk martial. At the same time the number of ordinary equerries was fixed at four. (fn. 4) From 1799 one or two extra equerries served.

In 1664 the remuneration attached to the offices consisted of wages of £20 and board wages of £100 plus diet at the gentlemen waiters' table. (fn. 5) In 1685 the salary was £256. (fn. 6) In 1704 it was increased to £300. (fn. 7) In 1803 it was raised to £445 while in 1812 it was fixed at £322 with an allowance of £250 in lieu of a house. In 1813 the salary was raised to £500 bringing the total remuneration to £750. (fn. 8)

After 1690 there was one equerry of the crown stable. From 1715 two served each with a salary of £256. (fn. 9) In 1765 they were differentiated in rank and designated first and second equerry, with salaries of £256 and £200 respectively. (fn. 10) In 1779 the office of first equerry was abolished. (fn. 11) The salary of the remaining equerry was increased to £322 in 1812 and to £445 in 1823. (fn. 12) Extra equerries of the crown stable were appointed from time to time.

Equerries of the Crown (Great Horse or Coursers') Stable

(1660–?1685; 1690–1837)

1660 Armorer, Sir. W.
1660 Beauclair, J.
1660 Muziene, J., sen.
1660 Slaughter, E.
By 1669 Warner, H.
By 1670 Muziene, J. jun.
By 1670 Porter, J.
By 1674 Watson, F. (later Sir. F)
1677 18 May Armorer, D.
1677 1 July Eagle, G.
1678 25 Mar. Morgan, H.
1682 28 Mar. Foubert, S. de.
By 1685 Scroope, Sir R. (?Crown)
1685 Office vacant?
1690 19 May Gramar, P.L.
1694 12 Feb. Richaussee, P.V.
1702 6 July Foubert, H.
1715 16 Sept. Richaussee, P.V.
1742 21 Aug. Foubert, H.
1743 21 Feb. Durell, S.
1745 13 Sept. St. Paul, W.F.
1765 5 Feb. St. Amour, J.
1771 5 July Durell, T.
1790 23 Mar. Montagu, J.
1812 13 Aug. Quentin, C.
1825 Quentin, Sir G.A.

Extra Equerries of the Crown Stable 1690–1766

1690 6 June Foubert, S.
1698 24 Mar. Foubert, H.
1721 5 Oct. Durell, S.
1766 29 May Evans, T.

Equerries of the Hunting Stable (from 1685, Equerries)1660–1837

1660 Carleton, T.
1660 Adderley, Sir C.
1660 Armorer, N. (later Sir N.).
1660 Cole, A.
1660 Progers, H. (later Sir. H.)
1660 Pye, Sir R.
1660 Windham, T.
1663 23 May Strickland, W.
By 1669 Wickliffe, J.
1671 21 Jan. Fairfax, B.
1675 22 Jan. Wicherley, W.
1675 5 Apr. Godfrey, C.
By 1678 Lyndall, W.
1678 20 Apr. Pope, R.
1678 13 June Adderley, C.
1679 1 Jan. Vyner, T.
By 1682 Wyndham, E.
By 1682 Foubert, S.
By 1685 Scroope, Sir R.
By 1685 Turner, C.
By 1685 Carter, R.
By 1685 Oglethorpe, T.
By 1685 Beaumont, J.
By 1688 Sheldon, R.
1689 14 Mar. Ireton, H.
1689 15 Mar. Butler, T.
1689 15 Mar. Latton, J.
1689 15 Mar. Fairfax, B.
1689 15 Mar. Hobart, Sir H.
By 1692 Cockayne, J.
By 1693 Dormer, C.
1694 22 July Pope, R.
By 1699 Lloyd, W.
1699 1 Jan. Feilding, G.
1702 23 June Chudleigh, H.
1702 6 July Lister, T.
1702 6 July Bulkeley, R.
1702 6 July Duncombe, W.
1702 6 July Oglethorpe, L.
1704 11 Nov. Meredith, T.
1707 7 Nov. Breton, W.
1708 20 Jan. Panton, T.
1711 12 June Wentworth, P.
1714 20 Nov. Pulteney, H.
1714 20 Nov. Berkeley, Hon. H.
1714 20 Nov. Aylmer, H.
1714 20 Nov. Cecil, W.
1727 7 Aug. Blomberg, E.C.
1727 7 Aug. Clayton, C.
1727 7 Aug. Lumley, Hon. J.
1730 6 Feb. Lloyd, P.
1737 20 June Feilding, Hon. C.
1737 20 June Mordaunt, J.
1743 19 Apr. Elliot, W.
1743 3 Dec. Worsley, T.
1747 5 Jan. Brudenell, G.B.
1758 24 May Chetwynd, W.
1760 15 Dec. Carr, T.
1760 16 Dec. Johnstone, J.
1760 16 Dec. Carpenter, B.
1760 16 Dec. Bishop, T.
1760 16 Dec. Desaguliers, T.
1760 23 Dec. Keppel, Hon. W.
1760 24 Dec. Ramsden, F.
1760 Hamilton, W.
1771 17 Apr. Mathew, E.
1778 29 Mar. Goldsworthy, P.
1781 5 July Greville, Hon. R.F.
1782 19 Apr. Price, W.
1783 19 Mar. Manners, R.
1787 31 Jan. Gwynn, F.E.
1788 14 Mar. Garth, T.
1797 8 Nov. Cartwright, W.
1801 6 Jan. Manningham, C.
1809 27 Aug. Fitzroy, Hon. C.
1811 11 Oct. Spencer, B.
1812 10 Mar. Hammond, F.T.
1812 10 Mar. Congreve, W.
1812 10 Mar. Bayly, H.
1812 10 Mar. Howard, Hon. F.
1815 Vivian, Sir R.H.
1817 Seymour, H.H.J.
1821 Bolton, Sir R.
1828 13 June Barnard, Sir A.F.
1830 16 July Sidney, Sir P.C.
1830 16 July FitzClarence, F.
1830 16 July d'Este, Sir A.F.
1830 16 July Kennedy Erskine, Hon. J.
1831 6 Mar. Fox, C.R.
1832 22 May Bowater, E.
1832 12 Sept. Seymour, H.B.
1835 17 Jan. Cavendish, Hon. H.F.C.

Equerries in Extraordinary 1799–1821; 1831–1837

1799 31 July Manningham, C.
1799 31 July Disbrowe, E.
1801 5 Jan. Fitzroy, Hon. C.
1801 3 June Spencer, B.
1810 31 Jan. Wynyard, W.
1812 May Vivian, Sir R.H.
1812 May Mellish, H.F.
1817 Bolton, Sir R.
1831 9 Sept. Cavendish, Hon. H.F.C.
1835 10 Jan. Wemyss, W.

Footnotes

  • 1. PSBC, p. 57; MOH PB 1, pp. 11, 145, 146; Beattie, pp. 102–3.
  • 2. Chamberlayne (1670), pp. 280–1; Panshanger MS; CTB VII, 1179.
  • 3. MOH EB 1, p. 2; WB 1, pp. 3, 28.
  • 4. MOH PB 1, pp. 158–9; WB 2, p. 2.
  • 5. LS 13/34, f. 16v; Panshanger MS.
  • 6. LS 13/38, f. 16v; MOH EB 11.
  • 7. LS 13/258, f. 38v.
  • 8. MOH PB 1, pp. 213, 221; LB D, pp. 95–6, 170–73; LB E, p. 278; EB 4, p. 3.
  • 9. MOH EB 1, p. 3.
  • 10. MOH WB 1, p. 26.
  • 11. MOH EB 2, p. 35.
  • 12. Ibid. 4, p. 4; ibid. 1D.