Clerks 1782-1822

Clerks 1782-1822

Until 1795 no fixed convention governed the number of Clerks appointed by the Secretary of State. On its formation in 1782 the Foreign Office contained, in addition to the Chief Clerk, seven established Clerks. (fn. 1) The number was increased to eight in July 1782, to nine in 1783 and to ten in 1790. (fn. 2) From 1793 the number fluctuated until it was fixed at eleven in 1795. (fn. 3) In 1804 the number effectively fell to ten when the First Senior Clerk was given the title of Second Chief Clerk. (fn. 4) The appointment of two additional Clerks was authorised in 1809. (fn. 5) The title of Second Chief Clerk was discontinued in 1817 and the number of Clerks rose to the permitted maximum of thirteen. An unsalaried Supernumerary Clerk held office, February 1801-February 1802 and September 1802-January 1803.

As had been the practice in the Northern Department, the term 'Senior Clerk' was applied until 1804 to the two most senior Clerks and from 1804 until 1822 to the three most senior Clerks in the office. (fn. 6) The term, however, has not been adopted in these lists until it was applied to a distinct grade in 1822, when the Clerks were divided into three classes of Senior, Second Class and Junior.

Between 1782 and 1795 the Clerks received their remuneration in the form of salaries from the Secretary of State, allowances from the Post Office and various perquisites. (fn. 7) In the latter year they were provided with consolidated salaries from the fee fund, receiving in order of seniority £650, £450, £300, £200, £160, £140, £130, £120, £110, £100 and £80. (fn. 8) The two Clerks added to the establishment in 1809 were each accorded salaries of £80. (fn. 9) In 1809 provision was made for the salary of each Clerk to be increased according to length of service, the amounts being £80 after five years, £200 after ten years, £300 after fifteen years and £400 after twenty years. (fn. 10)