Counsel 1673-1870

This office, to which appointments were made by Admiralty warrant, was created in 1673.¹ Originally it was attached to the Navy Board only. It was not until 1696 that the Counsel was formally deputed to act for the Admiralty as well.² However, in the interests of continuity the earlier holders of the office have been included in these lists. The office was discontinued in 1679, as a result of the decision to retrench naval expenditure, but was revived in 1685.³ Until 1696 the Counsel was empowered to appoint a Solicitor with a salary of £5.⁴ The salary of the Counsel which was originally £20, was raised to £100 in 1703.⁵ From 1824 the office was held concurrently with that of Judge Advocate of the Fleet.

Footnotes