The artistic establishment: Historiographer

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 artistic establishment: Historiographer', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 179. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/p179 [accessed 27 March 2024]

Historiographer c.1662–1782, c.1807–1837

The earliest holder of this office is said to have been James Howell. In 1662 he was granted an annuity of £200 by letters patent under the great seal which make no mention of the office. (fn. 1) However, in the letters patent granting the combined offices of historiographer and poet laureate successively to John Dryden (1670) and Thomas Shadwell (1689) Howell is mentioned as one of their predecessors. Dryden's salary was £200 while Shadwell's was £300. (fn. 2) Thereafter the two offices were held separately and the historiographer's salary was fixed at £200. Thomas Rymer was the last holder of the office to be appointed by letters patent in 1692; subsequent appointments were made by lord chamberlain's warrant. The office was abolished in 1782. (fn. 3) It had, however, been revived by 1807. (fn. 4)

c. 1662 Howell, J.
1670 18 Aug. Dryden, J.
1689 29 Aug. Shadwell, T.
1692 23 Dec. Rymer, T.
1714 9 July Madox, T.
1727 3 Feb. Stephens, R.
1732 13 Nov. Philipps, J.T.
1755 24 Feb. Stonehewer, R.
1782 Office vacant
By 1807 Dutens, L.
1812 3 June Clarke, J.S.
1821 21 May Sumner, C.R.
By 1830 Gooch, R.
1830 Office vacant
1837 17 Apr. James, G.P.R.

Footnotes

  • 1. C 66/3005, letters patent 27 Sept. 1662.
  • 2. C 66/3119, letters patent 18 Aug. 1670; C 66/3329, letters patent 29 Aug. 1689.
  • 3. LS 13/117 pp. 71, 73.
  • 4. RK (1807), p. 112.