Committees of the Privy Council for trade and plantations 1675-96

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 3, Officials of the Boards of Trade 1660-1870. Originally published by University of London, London, 1974.

'Committees of the Privy Council for trade and plantations 1675-96', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 3, Officials of the Boards of Trade 1660-1870, (London, 1974) pp. 25-27. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol3/pp25-27 [accessed 24 April 2024]

COMMITTEES OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL FOR TRADE AND PLANTATIONS 1675-96

Members 1675-96

From 1675 to 1696 the Board of Trade took the form of successive Committees of the Privy Council which had immediate responsibility for trade and plantation affairs and whose Members, often known as the Lords of Trade and Plantations, served without salary. As constituted in 1675 the Committee was select in character and provision was made for nine of its Members 'to have immediate care and intendency' of the business. (fn. 1) In 1679 the Committee was reappointed following the remodelling of the Privy Council. (fn. 2) It was revived at the accession of James II in 1685. (fn. 3) In 1688 trade and plantation affairs were entrusted to a Committee of the whole Council. (fn. 4) In the following year it was reconstituted as a select Committee which undertook the business until 1696. (fn. 5)

At no time during the period was attendance at the Committee restricted to those who had been specifically nominated to serve upon it. Other Privy Counsellors frequently attended and took part in its business. (fn. 6)

LIST OF APPOINTMENTS
1675	12 March	Danby, Earl of
1675	12 March	Anglesey, Earl of
1675	12 March	Lauderdale, Duke of
1675	12 March	Ormond, Duke of
1675	12 March	Worcester, Marquess of
1675	12 March	Ossory, Earl of
1675	12 March	Arlington, Earl of
1675	12 March	Bridgwater, Earl of
1675	12 March	Essex, Earl of
1675	12 March	Carlisle, Earl of
1675	12 March	Craven, Earl of
1675	12 March	Fauconberg, Viscount
1675	12 March	Halifax, Viscount
1675	12 March	Berkeley of Stratton, Lord
1675	12 March	Holles, Lord
1675	12 March	Savile, H.
1675	12 March	Coventry, Hon. H.
1675	12 March	Williamson, Sir J.
1675	12 March	Duncombe, Sir J.
1675	12 March	Carr, Sir R.
1675	12 March	Seymour, E.
1675	20 Oct.	London, Bishop of
1677	22 Dec.	Northampton, Earl of
1678	26 July	Berkeley, Lord
1678	13 Dec.	Ailesbury, Earl of
1679	22 April	Finch, Lord
1679	22 April	Shaftesbury, Earl of
1679	22 April	Anglesey, Earl of
1679	22 April	Albemarle, Duke of
1679	22 April	Lauderdale, Duke of
1679	22 April	Ormond, Duke of
1679	22 April	Winchester, Marquess of
1679	22 April	Worcester, Marquess of
1679	22 April	Arlington, Earl of
1679	22 April	Bridgwater, Earl of
1679	22 April	Sunderland, Earl of
1679	22 April	Essex, Earl of
1679	22 April	Fauconberg, Viscount
1679	22 April	Halifax, Viscount
1679	22 April	London, Bishop of
1679	22 April	Russell, Lord
1679	22 April	Cavendish, Lord
1679	22 April	Coventry, Hon. H.
1679	22 April	Ernle, Sir J.
1679	22 April	Temple, Sir W.
1679	22 April	Powle, H.
1679	27 June	Robartes, Lord
1679	27 June	Holles, Lord
1679	26 Nov.	Hyde, Hon. L.
1680	14 Feb.	Jenkins, Sir L.
1680	29 June	Clarendon, Earl of
1680	20 Oct.	Carr, Sir R.
1681	23 Feb.	Chesterfield, Earl of
1681	23 Feb.	Ailesbury, Earl of
1681	9 March	Craven, Earl of
1685	30 Oct.	Berkeley, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Danby, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Halifax, Marquess of
1689	16 Feb.	Devonshire, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Shrewsbury, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Bath, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Nottingham, Earl of
1689	16 Feb.	Fauconberg, Viscount
1689	16 Feb.	Mordaunt, Viscount
1689	16 Feb.	London, Bishop of
1689	16 Feb.	Capel, Hon. Sir H.
1689	16 Feb.	Powle, H.
1689	16 Feb.	Russell, E.
1689	26 Feb.	Lumley, Viscount
1690	20 Nov.	Godolphin, Lord
1691	14 May	Bridgwater, Earl of

Secretary 1675-96 and Assistant Secretary 1692-6

In March 1675 it was ordered that Sir Robert Southwell, one of the four Clerks in Ordinary of the Privy Council, should 'constantly attend' the Committee for Trade and Plantations as its Secretary. (fn. 7) In 1676 it was provided that such of the Clerks of the Council who wished should have the opportunity of undertaking the duties of Secretary, serving for periods of six months in turn. At the same time £400 a year was made available for their remuneration. (fn. 8) How far the Clerks of the Privy Council, apart from Southwell who resigned his office in 1679, played an active part as Secretaries is uncertain. Payments were made to them by name for successive periods of six months until 1685 after which they were made simply 'To the Clerk of the Council in Waiting' each quarter. It seems clear that, from this date at least, the £400 was treated simply as an additional salary to be divided equally amongst the four Clerks without regard to their attendance on the Committee. (fn. 9)

There seems little doubt that the actual duties of Secretary were undertaken almost from the first by Blathwayt who had entered the office in September 1675. In May 1676 he was, in consideration of the fact that he had been approved by the King as 'assistant to the clerks of the council in the business of trade and plantations' called in to give his attendance at the Committee. Thereafter his industry and continuous attendance ensured that the direction of the Committee's affairs passed effectively into his hands. His salary was fixed at £150 and raised to £250 in the following year. (fn. 10) He was himself appointed a Clerk of the Council in Extraordinary in 1678 and a Clerk in Ordinary in 1686. (fn. 11)

Although Blathwayt retained his position until 1696 his additional responsibilities as Secretary at War (1683) and as acting Secretary of State during the reign of William III restricted the amount of time that he could devote to the office. As a result much of the business devolved upon his principal subordinate, Povey. Povey's position was regularised in 1692 when he was appointed a Clerk of the Council in Extraordinary with special instructions 'to assist the Clerks of the Council at the Committee of Trade and Plantations' in the absence of Blathwayt. Povey continued to act as Assistant Secretary until 1696. (fn. 12)

LISTS OF APPOINTMENTS
SECRETARY
1675	Sept.	Blathwayt, W.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
1692	1 March	Povey, J.

Clerks 1675-96

Two Clerks, who were apparently Under Clerks of the Privy Council, served the Board from 1675 until March 1676, each with salaries of £50. (fn. 13) The first establishment of the office dated April 1676 made provision for two Clerks with the same salaries. (fn. 14) An 'Extraordinary Clerk' was also employed at the same salary from 1677 to 1683. (fn. 15) In 1685 a new establishment made provision for three Clerks, all with salaries of £50. (fn. 16) This arrangement continued in operation until 1696. The Journal of the Committee does not record the appointment of Clerks and the accounts specify the names of those who received salaries in only one case. It is, therefore, impossible to provide a satisfactory account of these officials. Apart from those who served between 1675 and 1676 the name of only one other Clerk is known.

LIST OF APPOINTMENTS
1675	March	Madox, P.
1675	March	Sergeant, B.
c. 1684		Povey, J.