Office Porters c. 1785-1870

An Office Porter or Messenger was in employment by 1784 and the succession to the office can be established from 1791. (fn. 1) The office was frequently executed by one or two Deputies before 1843. (fn. 2) At first the Office Porter received no salary but was paid separate sums for each task that he performed and enjoyed the use of apartments in the Foreign Office. (fn. 3) On the death of the then Office Porter, Talbot, in 1843 provision was made for salaries of £230 and £120 to be paid out of the contingent fund to a Head Office Porter and a Second Office Porter or Under Porter. (fn. 4) The offices were placed on the establishment in 1854. (fn. 5)

Footnotes