Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 5, Home Office Officials 1782-1870. Originally published by University of London, London, 1975.
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'Lists of appointments', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 5, Home Office Officials 1782-1870, ed. J C Sainty( London, 1975), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol5/pp11-44 [accessed 13 October 2024].
'Lists of appointments', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 5, Home Office Officials 1782-1870. Edited by J C Sainty( London, 1975), British History Online, accessed October 13, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol5/pp11-44.
"Lists of appointments". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 5, Home Office Officials 1782-1870. Ed. J C Sainty(London, 1975), , British History Online. Web. 13 October 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol5/pp11-44.
In this section
Secretary of State 1782-1870
The Secretary of State entered office on receiving the seals from the Sovereign. He took the oath at a meeting of the Privy Council, usually held on the same day. (fn. 1) His authority lasted until he delivered the seals back to the Sovereign. Originally appoint- ments were formally embodied in letters patent under the great seal granting the office during pleasure. This practice was abandoned after the appointment of Grey in 1861. (fn. 2)
From 1782 to 1795 the Secretary of State received fixed allowances amounting to £5680 a year together with office fees and other minor perquisites, the total of which varied from year to year. (fn. 3) In 1795 a consolidated salary of £6000 was substituted. (fn. 4) In 1831 this was reduced to £5000. (fn. 5)
1782 | 27 March | Shelburne, Earl of |
1782 | 10 July | Townshend, T. |
1783 | 2 April | North, Lord |
1783 | 19 Dec. | Temple, Earl (fn. 6) |
1783 | 23 Dec. | Sydney, Lord |
1789 | 5 June | Grenville, W. W. |
1791 | 8 June | Dundas, H. |
1794 | 11 July | Portland, Duke of |
1801 | 30 July | Pelham, Lord |
1803 | 17 Aug. | Yorke, C. P. |
1804 | 11 May | Hawkesbury, Lord |
1806 | 5 Feb | Spencer, Earl |
1807 | 25 March | Hawkesbury, Lord |
1809 | 1 Nov. | Ryder, Hon. R. |
1812 | 11 June | Sidmouth, Viscount |
1822 | 17 Jan. | Peel, R. |
1827 | 30 April | Sturges Bourne, W. |
1827 | 16 July | Lansdowne, Marquess of |
1828 | 22 Jan. | Peel, R. |
1830 | 22 Nov. | Melbourne, Viscount |
1834 | 19 July | Duncannon, Viscount |
1834 | 17 Nov. | Wellington, Duke of (fn. 7) |
1834 | 15 Dec. | Goulburn, H. |
1835 | 18 April | Russell, Lord J. |
1839 | 2 Sept. | Normanby, Marquess of |
1841 | 3 Sept. | Graham, Sir J. R. G. |
1846 | 6 July | Grey, Sir G. |
1852 | 27 Feb. | Walpole, S. H. |
1852 | 28 Dec. | Palmerston, Viscount |
1855 | 8 Feb. | Grey, Sir G. |
1858 | 26 Feb. | Walpole, S. H. |
1859 | 3 March | Sotheron Estcourt, T. H. S. |
1859 | 18 June | Lewis, Sir G. C. |
1861 | 25 July | Grey, Sir G. |
1866 | 6 July | Walpole, S. H. |
1867 | 17 May | Hardy, G. |
1868 | 9 Dec. | Bruce, H. A. |
Under Secretaries 1782-1870
In 1782 the Home Office adopted the convention, which had long operated in the Southern Department, of having two Under Secretaries. (fn. 8) With the exception of the years 1791-2 when the number rose temporarily to three, this convention was observed until the end of the period. (fn. 9) The modern distinction between the Permanent and Parliamentary Under Secretary evolved only gradually and was not the result of any specific decision. The Commissioners on Fees recommended in 1786 that it should be an established rule that one of the Under Secretaries should have security of tenure or be 'stationary'. (fn. 10) However, this concept was rejected by the Secretaries of State in their report of 1795 on the ground that it placed undue restriction on their freedom of action. The order in council of that year which settled the establishment of the office made provision for two undifferentiated Under Secretaries. (fn. 11) It was not until 1831 that the designations 'Permanent' and 'Parliamentary' were first officially applied to the occupants of these posts. (fn. 12)
Nevertheless, although its status remained undefined until 1831, the position of 'permanent' Under Secretary is already discernible at the time of the creation of the Home Office in 1782. Bell had originally been appointed to the Southern Department in 1781 on the understanding that he would succeed to 'what is considered the fix'd and Resident' Under Secretary. (fn. 13) The latter position was then held by Sir Stanier Porten who retired in March 1782. Bell was succeeded in his turn by Nepean. During Nepean's absence between 1791 and 1792 his place was taken by an additional Under Secretary, King, who remained in office as a full Under Secretary following the resignation of Bernard, the 'non-permanent' Under Secretary, in the latter year. There were thus two 'permanent' Under Secretaries between 1792 and 1794 when, on Nepean's departure from the Home Office, King became the sole such Under Secretary. King was succeeded in turn by Beckett, Hobhouse and Phillipps, the last of whom was the first to be officially designated Permanent Under Secretary. (fn. 14)
The other Under Secretary was customarily 'non-permanent' in the sense that he tended to leave office with the Secretary of State who had appointed him or, later, when the administration to which he owed political allegiance resigned. However, although the office had a marked personal or political character compared with its counterpart, it was not at first necessarily 'parliamentary' in nature. The post was held by a succession of M.P.s from 1782 to 1794 but between the latter date and 1806 no Under Secretary had a seat in the House of Commons with the exceptions of Greville (1795-6) and Pole Carew (1803-4). After 1806 there was a general expectation that the holders of the office would be members of one or other House. Nevertheless, even after the position was regulated in 1831, there were two cases, those of Gregson (1835) and Le Marchant (1847-8), in which the 'Parliamentary' Under Secretary had no seat in Parliament. (fn. 15)
Until 1831 both Under Secretaries received the same remuneration. From 1782 to 1795 this consisted of a salary of £500 from the civil list together with office fees and other small allowances. (fn. 16) While King acted as additional Under Secretary between December 1791 and August 1792 his remuneration was limited to £600 a year paid out of the contingent fund. (fn. 17) In 1795 the salary of each Under Secretary was fixed at £1500. (fn. 18) In 1799 this was raised to £2000 with provision for an increase to £2500 after three years' service. (fn. 19) In 1817 the period of service required to qualify for the increase was extended to seven years for future occupants of the offices. (fn. 20) In 1822 the salary was reduced to £2000 without any increase for length of service. (fn. 21) In 1831 a distinction was made between the remuneration of the Permanent and Parliamentary Under Secretary. The salary of the former was fixed at £2000; that of the latter at £1500. (fn. 22)
PERMANENT UNDER SECRETARY | ||
---|---|---|
1782 | 27 March | Bell, J. |
1782 | April | Nepean, E. (fn. 23) |
1791 | 3 Dec. | King, J. (fn. 24) |
1806 | 18 Feb. | Beckett, J. |
1817 | 28 June | Hobhouse, H. |
1827 | 31 July | Phillipps, S. M. |
1848 | 15 May | Waddington, H. |
1867 | 14 Aug. | Liddell, Hon. A. F. O. |
NON-PERMANENT (LATER PARLIAMENTARY) UNDER SECRETAR | ||
1782 | 1 April | Nepean, E. (fn. 25) |
1782 | April | Orde, T. |
1782 | 15 July | Strachey, H. |
1783 | April | North, Hon. G. A. |
1784 | 20 Feb. | Townshend, Hon. J. T. |
1789 | 6 June | Bernard, S. |
1794 | 17 July | Brodrick, Hon. T. |
1796 | 14 March | Greville, C. |
1798 | 1 March | Wickham, W. (fn. 26) |
1801 | 19 Feb. | Finch Hatton, E. (fn. 26) |
1801 | 18 Aug. | Shee, Sir G. (fn. 26) |
1803 | 17 Aug. | Pole Carew, R. |
1804 | 27 July | Smyth, J. H. (fn. 26) |
1806 | 5 Feb. | Williams Wynn, C. W. |
1807 | 30 Nov. | Jenkinson, Hon. C. C. C. |
1810 | 27 Feb. | Goulburn, H. |
1812 | 20 Aug. | Addington, J. H. |
1818 | 22 April | Clive, H. |
1822 | 18 Jan. | Dawson, G. R. |
1827 | 30 April | Perceval, S. |
1827 | 16 July | Spring Rice, T. |
1828 | 22 Jan. | Peel, W. Y. |
1830 | 5 Aug. | Clerk, Sir G. |
1830 | 22 Nov. | Lamb, Hon. G. |
1834 | 13 Jan. | Howick, Viscount |
1834 | 23 July | Stanley, E. J. |
1835 | 3 Jan. | Gregson, W. (fn. 26) |
1835 | 18 April | Maule, Hon. F. |
1841 | 15 June | Seymour, Lord |
1841 | 3 Sept. | Manners Sutton, Hon. J. H. T. |
1846 | July | Somerville, Sir W. M. |
1847 | 22 July | Le Marchant, Sir D. (fn. 26) |
1848 | 15 May | Lewis, G. C. |
1850 | July | Pleydell Bouverie, Hon. E. |
1852 | Feb. | Jolliffe, Sir W. G. H. |
1852 | Dec. | Fitzroy, Hon. H. |
1855 | March | Cowper, Hon. W. F. |
1855 | Aug. | Massey, W. N. |
1858 | March | Hardy, G. |
1859 | June | Clive, G. |
1862 | Nov. | Bruce, H. A. |
1864 | April | Baring, T. G. |
1866 | May | Knatchbull Hugessen, E. H. |
1866 | 7 July | Belmore, Earl of (fn. 27) |
1867 | Aug. | Fergusson, Sir J. |
1868 | Aug. | Hicks Beach, Sir M. E. |
1868 | Dec. | Knatchbull Hugessen, E. H. |
Chief Clerk 1782-1870
The office of Chief, or First, Clerk, which had been a feature of the Southern Department, formed part of the establishment of the Home Office throughout the period. Originally the Chief Clerk, unlike the other Clerks on the establishment, received no salary from the Secretary of State. His remuneration was derived from a fixed proportion of the office fees, £25 from the Irish concordatum fund, two separate sums of £100 from Post Office funds and a variety of other perquisites and allowances. (fn. 28) In 1795 a fixed salary of £1000 was substituted. (fn. 29) In 1801 provision was made for an increase to £1250 after five years' service. (fn. 30) In 1822 the scale was fixed at £1000 rising by annual increments of £50 to £1250. (fn. 31) In 1849 this was reduced to £800 rising by annual increments of £25 to £1000. (fn. 32) In 1866 it was increased to £1000 rising by annual increments of £50 to £1200. (fn. 33)
1782 | 27 March | Shadwell, R. |
1782 | 1 June | Pollock, W. |
1816 | 15 Feb. | Plasket, T. H. |
1849 | 5 April | Knyvett, H. J. |
1865 | 1 Oct. | Fitzgerald, C. R. |
1868 | 1 Nov. | Leslie, F. S. |
Clerks 1782-1822
On its formation in 1782 the Home Office contained, apart from the Chief Clerk, ten established Clerks. (fn. 34) The number was increased to eleven in 1789 (fn. 35) and to thirteen in 1803. (fn. 36) A Supernumerary Clerk held office between 1791 and 1794. (fn. 37) Between 1782 and 1822 it was the practice for a varying number of the more senior Clerks to be designated 'Senior Clerks' in the published lists of the office. (fn. 38) However, the significance of this term, which is only rarely found in the departmental records and is not reflected in any special salary arrangements, is obscure. The number of Clerks so designated was four between 1783 and 1794, three between 1795 and 1803, two between 1804 and 1807, three between 1808 and 1810, two between 1811 and 1815 and four between 1816 and 1822. (fn. 39) In 1822 the Clerks were divided into three classes of Senior, Assistant 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. 40) 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. 41) The two Clerks added to the establishment in 1803 were each accorded salaries of £80. (fn. 42) 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. 43)
s1782 | 27 March | Brietzcke, C. |
1782 | 27 March | Morin, J. |
1782 | 27 March | Randall, G. |
1782 | 27 March | Higden, W. H. |
1782 | 27 March | Carrington, G. W. |
1782 | 27 March | Daw, T. |
1782 | 27 March | Wilmot, E. |
1782 | 27 March | Colleton, J. N. |
1782 | 27 March | Chetwynd, Hon. R. |
1782 | 27 March | Palman, G. L. |
1783 | 25 Feb. | Mathias, G. A. V. |
1784 | 7 July | Chapman, J. |
1786 | 6 Sept. | Hepburn, R. |
1789 | 9 Jan. | Bradbury, J. |
1789 | 9 Jan. | Jessep, J. |
1789 | 9 Jan. | Chapman, R. |
1789 | 22 Aug. | Goddard, C. |
1791 | 17 May | Douglas, R. |
1791 | 17 May | Gordon, A. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Plasket, T. H. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Adams, W. D. (fn. 44) |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Johnston, W. F. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Hicks, J. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Brietzcke, G. P. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Lefroy, G. T. |
1794 | 24 Oct. | Wood, E. |
1795 | 22 May | Wood, R. R. |
1797 | 7 Aug. | Noble, R. H. |
1798 | 6 Feb. | Mills, F. R. |
1799 | 22 Jan. | Medley, R. |
1801 | 10 July | Norris, J. F. |
1803 | 17 Aug. | Venables, T. |
1803 | 19 Oct. | Edgcumbe, F. |
1803 | 19 Oct. | Reynolds, J. |
1805 | 5 July | Jenkinson, R. H. |
1805 | 31 Dec. | Willimot, R. |
1810 | 10 Oct. | Montagu, W. |
1811 | 29 June | Walpole, F. |
1815 | 2 Feb. | Whish, H. F. |
1816 | 15 Feb. | Hoskins, G. |
1817 | 17 Feb. | Douglas, J. D. |
1817 | 14 Aug. | Currie, F. J. G. |
1819 | 5 April | Le Mesurier, T. |
1819 | 5 July | Dawson, R. S. |
1820 | 2 May | Knyvett, H. J. |
Senior Clerks 1822-70
Although the term 'Senior Clerk' had been used earlier in the Home Office to describe a varying number of the Clerks on the establishment, it was not until 1822 that it was applied to a distinct grade. (fn. 45) In that year provision was made for four Senior, or First Class, Clerks. The most senior of these was accorded a salary of £700 rising by annual increments of £20 to £900 while the salaries of the other three were fixed at £600 rising by annual increments of £20 to £800. (fn. 46) In 1849 it was provided that the higher salary should be paid to the Clerk in question only if he was at the head of one of the branches into which the work of the department was divided. At the same time the salary of the Clerk for Criminal Business was assimilated to that of a Senior Clerk. (fn. 47)
The committee of 1856 recommended that both the Clerk for Criminal Business and the Keeper of the Criminal Register should be ranked as Senior Clerks and that no further appointment should be made to the grade until its numbers had been reduced to three who, together with the Chief Clerk, were to preside over the four branches into which the business was to be divided, and to receive maximum salaries of £900. (fn. 48) The salaries of the Keeper of the Criminal Register and the Clerk for Criminal Business were accordingly revised in 1858 and 1860 respectively. (fn. 49) On the retirement of the Keeper of the Criminal Register his duties were entrusted to a Senior Clerk on the ordinary establishment. (fn. 50) In 1865 the Home Office filled the vacancy which occurred amongst the Senior Clerks although the individual in question had no branch to superintend-an action which was in conflict with the recommendation of the committee of 1856. In 1866, however, the Treasury secured an undertaking that no further appointments would be made until the number of Senior Clerks had been reduced to three, including the Clerk for Criminal Business. At the same time the salaries of the Clerks in charge of branches of business were fixed at £700 rising by annual increments of £25 to £1000. (fn. 51) In conformity with the arrangement made in 1866 the senior clerkships which became vacant in 1868 and 1869 remained unfilled, the number of Senior Clerks on the ordinary establishment being thus reduced by two.
Assistant Clerks 1822-70
The grade of Assistant, or Second Class, Clerk was created in 1822 when provision was made for four such Clerks. (fn. 52) The number was increased to five in 1860, (fn. 53) to six in 1865, (fn. 54) to seven in 1866 (fn. 55) and to eight in 1868. (fn. 56) The salary scale attached to the grade in 1822 was £350 rising by annual increments of £15 to £545. (fn. 57) In 1866 it was fixed at £350 rising by annual increments of £20 to £600. (fn. 58)
Junior Clerks 1822-70
The grade of Junior, or Third Class, Clerk was created in 1822 when provision was made for five such Clerks. (fn. 59) The number was increased to six in 1852, the appointment of a supernumerary Junior Clerk being authorised at the same time. (fn. 60) It was fixed at seven in 1854 when the supernumerary appointment was made permanent. (fn. 61) It was reduced to six in 1860 and to five in 1866. In the latter year it was provided that, as vacancies occurred in two of the senior clerkships, they should be filled by the appointment of additional Junior Clerks. (fn. 62) In February 1868 the appointment of a sixth Junior Clerk was authorised. (fn. 63) In November 1868 and March 1869 seventh and eighth Junior Clerks were appointed to fill the vacancies caused by the abolition of the senior clerkships. (fn. 64) The salary scale attached to the grade in 1822 was £150 rising by annual increments of £10 to £300. (fn. 65) In 1860 it was provided that, in the case of future appointments, the starting level should be £100. (fn. 66)
Chief Clerk and Under Secretary (Plantation Department) 1783-7
This office was created in 1783 when Elliott, the former Solicitor and Clerk of Reports of the old Board of Trade, was placed in charge of the department with the title of Chief Clerk and a salary of £500. In the following year he was advanced to the rank of Under Secretary. The office was not filled after Elliott's death in 1787. (fn. 67)
Clerks (Plantation Department) 1783-9
The number of Clerks in the Plantation Department was fixed at three in 1783 with salaries of £120, £100 and £80. The offices ceased to exist in 1789 when the then Clerks were transferred to the ordinary establishment. (fn. 68)
1783 | Dec. | Bradbury, J. |
1783 | Dec. | Porter, J. |
1783 | Dec. | Jessep, J. |
1786 | Aug. | Chapman, R. |
Supplementary Clerks 1793-1870
It was the practice of the Home Office from the time of its formation to employ a varying number of Clerks in addition to those on the establishment. (fn. 69) However, it was apparently only from 1793 that they were paid out of the funds of the department. (fn. 70) The designation of these Clerks varied considerably. At first known usually as Extra or Assistant Clerks they had come by the middle of the nineteenth century to be described as Supplementary Clerks, a term that has, for the sake of consistency, been used throughout these lists. In the cases of the Keeper and Assistant Keeper of the Criminal Register and the Clerk and Assistant Clerk of Criminal Business the practice of employing Supplementary Clerks gave rise to the creation of distinct posts within the structure of the department.
Some Supplementary Clerks, often hired from law stationers, were employed on a purely temporary basis. Others succeeded in acquiring a more or less permanent standing in the office. Two such Clerks were employed in the criminal branch although their identity and limits of service cannot be established with precision before 1859. (fn. 71) In 1853 two Supplementary Clerks were transferred to the Home Office in connection with the business arising from highways and turnpike trusts. (fn. 72) In 1859 the Supplementary Clerks numbered seven. (fn. 73) Originally the usual rate of pay had been five shillings a day (£78 a year). In 1852 salary arrangements similar to those for Supplementary Clerks in the Treasury were introduced which ranged from £109 10s for less than five years' service, to £182 10s for more than twenty years' service. (fn. 74) In 1861 the Supplementary Clerks were divided into two classes, the first consisting of four with a salary scale beginning at £150 and rising by annual increments of £10 to £300 and the second consisting of three beginning at £100 and rising by annual increments of £5 to £150. (fn. 75) In 1866 new scales were authorised. The salaries of the first class were fixed at £250 rising by annual increments of £10 to £350 while those of the second, now increased to four Clerks, were fixed at £100 rising by annual increments of £5 to £250. (fn. 76)
Keeper and Assistant Keeper of the Criminal Register 1793-1860
The office of Keeper of the Criminal Register, which never formed part of the ordinary establishment, originated in 1793 when Raven began to receive, in addition to his salary of £80 as a Supplementary Clerk, an allowance of £70 a year 'for keeping a Criminal Register of the Felons in Newgate'. (fn. 77) This allowance, which was paid out of the contingent fund, was raised to £120 in 1795. (fn. 78) Raven's successor as Keeper, Day, was appointed at £50 in 1800, his allowance being raised to £80 in 1806. (fn. 79) In 1809 the office was brought within the terms of the order in council which provided increases of £80, £200, £300 and £400 after successive periods of five years' service. (fn. 80)
In 1828 an Assistant Keeper, S. Redgrave, was appointed with an allowance of £150, payable out of the contingent fund. (fn. 81) This was raised to £200 in 1830 while in 1836 provision was made for annual increases of £10. (fn. 82) In 1839 Redgrave was appointed a Junior Clerk on the establishment and his allowance as Assistant Keeper was reduced to £150. (fn. 83) In 1841 Day retired and, in accordance with a decision made in 1822, the office was regulated by order in council. Redgrave was appointed Keeper at £150 while retaining his position on the establishment. At the same time provision was made for an Assistant Keeper, to be chosen by the Keeper subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, with an allowance of £120. (fn. 84) This office was abolished in 1850. (fn. 85) In 1844 Redgrave's allowance as Keeper was raised to £300. (fn. 86)
The committee of 1856 recommended that Redgrave should be placed in charge of a new Police and Statistical Branch of the department and given the rank and salary of a Senior Clerk. The branch was formed at once and in 1858 Redgrave was given a consolidated salary of £880 rising after one year to £900. (fn. 87) In 1860 Redgrave retired and the Police and Statistical Branch was placed in the charge of a Senior Clerk on the ordinary establishment. (fn. 88)
Clerk and Assistant Clerk for Criminal Business 1800-70
The Criminal Branch of the Home Office appears to have had its origin in the activities of Raven, a Supplementary Clerk, who also acted as Keeper of the Criminal Register. (fn. 89) From the date of his dismissal in 1800 another Supplementary Clerk, Capper, began to receive an allowance of £100 from the contingent fund for 'executing the Criminal Branch'. In addition to this allowance Capper continued to receive a salary of £70 as a Supplementary Clerk. In 1806 his total remuneration was fixed at £270. (fn. 90) In 1809 the post of Clerk for Criminal Business was brought within the terms of the order in council which provided increases of £80, £200, £300 and £400 after successive periods of five years' service. (fn. 91)
At some date before 1822 Capper acquired the assistance of a Supplementary Clerk, Trushard, whose allowance from the contingent fund, originally £260, was raised to £300 in 1824. (fn. 92) In 1822 it was provided that, on Trushard's departure from office, the position of his successor should be settled by order in council. (fn. 93) In the event no action was taken on Trushard's resignation in 1827, the work being entrusted not to a Clerk in the Home Office but to Everest, a Clerk on the Convict Hulk establishment which Capper superintended in addition to his duties as Clerk for Criminal Business. Everest's position was not regulated by order in council until 1845 when he was formally accorded the title of Assistant Clerk for Criminal Business and provided with a salary, payable out of Home Office funds, beginning at £300 and rising by annual increments of £15 to £400. (fn. 94)
On Capper's retirement in 1847 Everest succeeded him as Clerk with a salary of £550 rising by annual increments of £15 to £800. (fn. 95) In 1849 the salary scale was assimilated to that of a Senior Clerk on the ordinary establishment: £600 rising by annual increments of £20 to £800. (fn. 96) In 1860 the maximum was raised to £900 in accordance with the recommendation of the committee of 1856. (fn. 97) When the salary arrangements of the office were revised in 1866 Everest was again treated as a Senior Clerk and accorded a scale beginning at £700 and rising by annual increments of £25 to £1000. (fn. 98)
On Everest's promotion in 1847 the office of Assistant Clerk for Criminal Business was filled by a Supplementary Clerk, Joseph, with a salary of £150. This post lapsed in 1849 on Joseph's appointment as a Junior Clerk on the establishment. (fn. 99)
Clerk for Aliens Business 1836-49
This office was created in 1836 for the purpose of discharging the work formerly undertaken by the distinct Aliens Department. The salary scale was fixed at £300 rising by annual increments of £5 to £400. (fn. 100) The office was abolished in 1849. (fn. 101)
Clerk for Signet Business 1851-70
This post came into being in 1851 on the abolition of the offices of the Clerks of the Signet. The former Office Keeper to the Clerks was transferred to the Home Office in order to undertake certain residual functions connected with the Signet. (fn. 102) He gradually acquired other functions and was eventually designated Second Clerk in the branch for appointments and Clerk for Signet Business. (fn. 103) Originally the remuneration attached to the post was divided between a compensation allowance in respect of the holder's former office of Office Keeper of the Signet Office and a salary from the Home Office. The latter was fixed at £215 in 1851 and was raised to £350 in 1860. A consolidated salary of £600 was provided in 1866. (fn. 104)
Clerk for Roads Business 1853-70
This office had its origin in 1853 when three Clerks who had formerly been employed by the Surveyor of Roads were transferred to the Home Office. Two of these Clerks were henceforth ranked as ordinary Supplementary Clerks. The third, Morrish, was given a position of special responsibility and gradually acquired the title of Clerk for Roads Business or Clerk for Highways and Turnpike Trusts. The salary was originally £300. (fn. 105) In 1855 it was raised to £400 and a scale provided for future holders of the office beginning at £300 and rising by annual increments of £15 to £400. (fn. 106)
Clerks for Local Taxation Returns 1866-70
In 1860 the Home Office became responsible for the preparation of local taxation returns. At first their compilation was entrusted to law stationers' clerks employed on a temporary basis and paid out of a sum of £400 made available for the purpose. In 1866 the two Clerks so employed were given permanent status and a salary scale beginning at £150 and rising by annual increments of £10 to £300. (fn. 107)
1866 | Dec. | Ilett, T. |
1866 | Dec. | Buckingham, C. F. |
1869 | 6 July | Collings, J. B. E. W. |
Librarian 1792-1865
This office originated in 1792, being placed on the establishment in 1822. (fn. 108) In 1849 the Librarian was given the additional title of Registrar. (fn. 109) The office was abolished in 1865. (fn. 110) The salary, originally £200, was raised to £300 in 1798. (fn. 111) In 1809 the office was brought within the terms of the order in council which provided increases of £80, £200, £300 and £400 after successive periods of five years' service. (fn. 112) Mills was appointed at a fixed salary of £600 in 1820. (fn. 113) In 1822 it was provided that, for future appointments, the scale should begin at £350 and rise by annual increments of £15 to £545. (fn. 114) In 1849 the scale was fixed at £450 rising by annual increments of £15 to £600. (fn. 115)
1792 | 13 Oct. | Peace, C. |
1806 | 15 May | Peace, W. |
1820 | 5 April | Mills, F. R. |
1849 | 1 April | Kitching, J. F. |
Accountant 1868-70
This office was created in 1868. The salary scale was originally £150 rising by annual increments of £10 to £200. (fn. 116) In 1870 it was fixed at £250 rising to £400, for the first eight years by annual increments of £10 and thereafter by annual increments of £15. (fn. 117)
Private Secretary to Secretary of State 1791-1870
The office of Private Secretary to the Secretary of State first acquired official standing in 1791 when a salary of £300, payable out of the contingent fund, was made available for its holder. (fn. 118) In 1795 the office was placed on the establishment. (fn. 119) Before 1830 the Private Secretaries were occasionally selected from amongst the Clerks on the establishment but from that year until the end of the period they were invariably appointed from outside the office. The payment of the salary was suspended in the case of Private Secretaries with seats in the Commons. (fn. 120)
Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under Secretary 1865-70
While some Parliamentary Under Secretaries had the services of a Private Secretary at earlier periods, it was not until 1865 that the post was placed on the establishment with a salary of £150. (fn. 121) Its occupants do not occur in lists of the Home Office before 1870. (fn. 122)
Précis Writer 1791-1849
The Office of Précis Writer first acquired official standing in 1791 when a salary of £200, payable out of the contingent fund, was made available for its holder. The salary was raised to £300 in 1794. (fn. 123) The office was placed on the establishment in 1795. (fn. 124) It was abolished in 1849. (fn. 125)
Office Keepers 1782-1870
Two Office, or Chamber, Keepers were taken over by the Home Office from the former Southern Department. Until 1795 they received salaries of £20 16s each from the Secretary of State together with office fees and certain other perquisites. (fn. 126) In 1795 the salaries were fixed at £100 each. (fn. 127) In 1857 a scale was established beginning at £150 and rising by annual increments of £10 to £200. (fn. 128) In 1782 a Deputy Office Keeper, Crowder, was transferred to the Home Office from the former Colonial Office but he was not replaced on his death in 1784.
Housekeeper 1782-1862
The office of Housekeeper, or Necessary Woman as it was formerly designated, was taken over by the Home Office from the former Southern Department. Until 1795 the Housekeeper received a salary of £48 from the Secretary of State together with certain perquisites. (fn. 129) In 1795 the salary was fixed at £100. (fn. 130) In 1804 an additional allowance of £40 a year was provided. (fn. 131) In 1822 the salary was fixed at £140. (fn. 132) It was raised to £160 in 1826. (fn. 133) The office was abolished in 1862 when provision was made for the duties to be undertaken by the wife of one of the Office Keepers with an allowance of £50 a year. (fn. 134)
1782 | 27 March | Emmitt, E. |
1795 | 27 Feb. | Drinkwater, C. (fn. 135) |
1797 | 11 May | Moss, A. |
1821 | 5 Nov. | Allen, M. |
1830 | 5 Jan. | Cook, E. |
Office Porters 1782-1870
An Office Porter or Messenger was employed by the Home Office from 1782. At first he received no salary but was paid separate sums for each task that he performed. (fn. 136) In 1810 an allowance of £35 was provided. (fn. 137) By 1822 there were two Office Porters, one with a salary of £100 and an allowance of £50 for carrying letters and another with a salary of £85. (fn. 138) The salary of the junior Office Porter was raised to £95 in 1825. In 1838 the salaries were fixed at £110 and £85 for the senior and junior Porter respectively. (fn. 139) Between 1857 and 1860 a third Office Porter was employed and the number was fixed at four in 1865 when the grade was consolidated with that of Assistant Office Keeper. (fn. 140)
1782 | 27 March | Henry, C. |
1798 | Woodlands, J. | |
1821 | Pinder, H. | |
By 1822 | Scutt, W. | |
1835 | 5 July | Meyer, H. L. |
1838 | 8 Feb. | Merritt, S. |
1845 | Baker, G. | |
1845 | Burrows, C. | |
1857 | Webb, W. | |
1859 | Haggard, S. | |
1862 | Burgess, R. H. | |
1866 | Baker, G. (fn. 141) | |
1866 | Keene, T. | |
1866 | Gordon, J. | |
1870 | Hockey, W. H. |
Door Porter 1810-70
This office came into existence in 1810. The salary, originally £110, was raised to £130 in 1822. (fn. 142) In 1835 it was reduced, in conformity with the order in council of 1822, to £100. (fn. 143)
1810 | 8 Jan. | Youris, J. |
1810 | 8 Feb. | Mack, H. |
1835 | 5 April | Loton, J. |
1849 | July | Osborne, J. |
1856 | Aug. | Collett, J. F. |
1862 | Haggard, S. | |
1865 | Webb, F. | |
1866 | Priest, T. | |
1870 | Keene, T. |
Assistant Office Keepers 1825-65
An Assistant Office Keeper was appointed in 1825 with a salary of £75. (fn. 144) A second Assistant Office Keeper was appointed in 1845 whose salary, originally £65, was raised to £75 in 1851. (fn. 145) In 1865 the title was discontinued, the then holders of the offices being thereafter classed as Office Porters. (fn. 146)
1825 | 5 April | Williams, J. |
1844 | Collett, J. F. | |
1845 | Baker, G. | |
1856 | Webb, F. | |
1865 | Priest, T. |
Counsel for Colonial Business 1782-1801
Before 1782 the task of reporting on the acts of colonial legislatures had been undertaken by a Counsel attached to the Board of Trade. (fn. 147) On the abolition of the Board in that year the responsibility for securing the necessary reports was transferred to the Home Secretary as the Secretary of State having charge of the colonies. The work was then carried on by a Counsel attached to the Home Office until 1801 when colonial business was entrusted to the Secretary of State for War who retained the services of Baldwin, the then Counsel. The Counsel was not paid a salary but received from the Treasury Solicitor a fee of three guineas for each report. (fn. 148)
1782 | July | Selwyn, W. |
1783 | April | Mansfield, J. |
1783 | Dec. | Selwyn, W. |
1796 | 2 Feb. | Baldwin, W. |
Law Clerk 1791-1818
The post of Law Clerk was attached to the offices of the Secretaries of State between 1747 and 1774. (fn. 149) It was revived in 1791 within the Home Office with a salary of £300. (fn. 150) In 1795 the office was placed on the establishment. (fn. 151) During the period that it was held by Lamb it was a complete sinecure and it was discontinued on his death in 1818. (fn. 152)
Counsel for Criminal Business 1796-1813
This office originated in 1796. (fn. 153) It was discontinued in 1813 on the death of Baldwin, its only holder. (fn. 154) The basic salary attached to the post was £500 but Baldwin received and additional £300 a year from 1796 until 1799 when he was appointed Receiver of the Police Offices. (fn. 155) In 1805 the salary, which had previously been paid at the Treasury, was made a charge on the Treasury Solicitor. (fn. 156)
Parliamentary Counsel 1835-69
This office had its origin in the arrangements made by Peel, as Home Secretary, for the improvement and consolidation of the criminal law. (fn. 157) From 1824 a number of individuals were employed as parliamentary draftsmen at the expense of the government although none of them actually held a formal appointment. In the course of time their work was extended beyond the reform of the criminal law to the drafting of bills generally. In some cases payments were made in respect of particular bills. (fn. 158) However, from 1826 to 1833 William Gregson was employed on a continuous basis by successive Secretaries of State, receiving annual payments of £1000 from 1826 to 1828, £1260 in 1829, £1100 in 1830 and £1260 from 1831 to 1833. (fn. 159) From 1830 to 1833 he had an assistant, Henry Roscoe, at £500 a year. (fn. 160) Anthony Hammond, who was primarily concerned with consolidation, received a total of £3000 between 1825 and 1829. (fn. 161) Although these draftsmen worked under the direction of the Home Secretary they received their remuneration at the Treasury out of the funds provided for the expenses of the two Houses of Parliament.
Gregson's employment ceased in 1833 and he was not immediately replaced. For the next two years bills were prepared by a number of different draftsmen who received their remuneration from the Treasury Solicitor out of the money provided for law charges. (fn. 162) In 1835 Russell, as Home Secretary, obtained the approval of the Treasury for the appointment of a permanent Parliamentary Counsel whose salary was fixed in the following year at £1200. (fn. 163) In 1837 this office was formally incorporated into the establishment of the Home Office with a salary of £1500. (fn. 164) In 1842 its holder was made responsible for preparing bills for thirteen departments in addition to the Home Office and became, in effect, the principal government draftsman. (fn. 165) In 1848 the salary was raised to £2000. (fn. 166) The office was discontinued in 1869 when the then Counsel was appointed to the revived post of Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury. (fn. 167)
1835 | 28 Sept. | Drinkwater, J. E. |
1848 | 2 March | Coulson, W. |
1861 | 4 Feb. | Thring, H. |
Clerks to Parliamentary Counsel 1836-69
Two Clerks were employed by the Parliamentary Counsel from 1836, the second of whom was regarded as temporary until 1838. (fn. 168) The salary, originally £78, was increased to £100 in 1843. (fn. 169) In 1851 it was provided that the salary of the senior Clerk should begin at £150 and increase by annual increments of £10 to £200 while that of the junior should begin at £100 and increase by annual increments of £10 to £150. (fn. 170) The offices ceased to exist in 1869 on the transfer of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury.
1836 | 10 Oct. | Fisk, R. |
1836 | 10 Oct. | Parsons, E. |
1840 | 5 April | Nichol, H. |
1848 | 5 April | Morris, W. |
1861 | 14 March | Godin, R. |
Solicitor 1841-2
This office was created in February 1841 with a salary of £1500. (fn. 171) Its holder resigned in September of that year and was not replaced. The duties of the office were transferred to the Treasury Solicitor in 1842. (fn. 172)
Assistant on Irish Affairs 1867-70
This office had its origin in an arrangement, made in 1867, whereby an Irish barrister was transferred from the Irish government in Dublin to the Home Office for the purpose of dealing with questions arising out of the Fenian conspiracy. In 1868 the remuneration attached to the post was fixed at £50 a month. (fn. 173) Originally considered a temporary appointment, the office of Assistant had acquired a more or less permanent standing by 1870. (fn. 174)
Legal Adviser 1869-70
This office was created in 1869 with a salary of £1000. (fn. 175)