The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Naval Service is the Naval branch of the British Armed Forces, which includes civilian agencies under the control of the Navy Board. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS. The current First Sea Lord is Admiral Sir Jonathon Band (appointed 7 February 2006). Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB, ADC (born 1950 since 2006 is the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom the most senior serving officer Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

History

Between 1795 and 1827 the head of the Royal Navy was known as the Admiral of the Fleet. Year 1795 ( MDCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common This office later became a rank.

• Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe 1795–1799
• Sir Peter Parker 1799–1811
• Prince William, Duke of Clarence 1811–1827

Prior to 1809 naval officers had occasionally served as First Lord of the Admiralty, or president of the Board of Admiralty. Richard Howe 1st Earl Howe KG ( 8 March, 1726 &ndash 5 August, 1799) was a British Admiral, notable in particular Admiral Sir Peter Parker 1st Baronet (1721 &ndash 1811 was a British naval officer who became Admiral of the Fleet. William IV (William Henry 21 August 1765 &ndash 20 June 1837 was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. However, between 1809 and 1828 the office was invariably held by a civilian politician. The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap

The title of First Sea Lord was first given to the senior Naval Lord on the Board of Admiralty in 1828. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The First Sea Lord was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff) would serve as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces (from 1956 the post was known as the Chief of the Defence Staff). The Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of the most senior Military personnel in the British Armed Forces. Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS was the title of the professional commander of the British Army from 1908 until 1964 The Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the Royal Air Force and a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Air Force Board. The Chief of the Defence Staff ( CDS) is the professional head of the British Armed Forces.

The title was retained when the Board of Admiralty was abolished in 1964 and its functions integrated into the Ministry of Defence. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters

George Cockburn 1841 - 1846

Sir Thomas Hardy 1830 - 1834

First Naval Lords, 1828–1904

• Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet 1828–1830
• Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet 1830–1834
• The Hon. George Heneage Dundas 1834
• Charles Adam 1834
• Sir George Cockburn 1834–1835
• Sir Charles Adam 1835–1841
• Sir George Cockburn 1841–1846
• Sir William Parker, Bt 1846
• Sir Charles Adam 1846–1847
• James Whitley Deans Dundas 1847–1852
• The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley 1852
• Hyde Parker 1852–1854
• The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley 1854–1857
• The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas 1857–1858
• William Fanshawe Martin 1858–1859
• The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas 1859–1861
• The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey 1861–1866
• Sir Alexander Milne 1866–1868
• Sir Sydney Dacres 1868–1872
• Sir Alexander Milne 1872–1876
• Sir Hastings Yelverton 1876–1877
• George Wellesley 1877–1879
• Sir Astley Cooper Key 1879–1885
• Sir Arthur Acland Hood 1885–1886
• Lord John Hay 1886
• Sir Arthur Acland Hood 1886–1889
• Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton 1889–1891
• Sir Anthony Hoskins 1891–1893
• Sir Frederick Richards 1893–1899
• Lord Walter Kerr 1899–1904

Sir John Cunningham 1946 - 1948

Earl Mountbatten of Burma 1955 - 1959

First Sea Lords, 1904–1964

• Sir John Arbuthnot Fisher 1904–1910
• Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson 1910–1911
• Sir Francis Bridgeman 1911–1912
• Prince Louis of Battenberg 1912–1914
• The Lord Fisher 1914–1915
• Sir Henry Jackson 1915–1916
• Sir John Jellicoe 1916–1917
• Sir Rosslyn Wemyss 1917–1919
• The Earl Beatty 1919–1927
• Sir Charles Madden, Bt 1927–1930
• Sir Frederick Field 1930–1933
• The Lord Chatfield 1933–1938
• Sir Roger Backhouse 1938–1939
• Sir Dudley Pound 1939–1943
• The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope 1943–1946
• Sir John Cunningham 1946–1948
• The Lord Fraser of North Cape 1948–1951
• Sir Rhoderick McGrigor 1951–1955
• The Earl Mountbatten of Burma 1955–1959
• Sir Charles Lambe 1959–1960
• Sir Caspar John 1960–1963
• Sir David Luce 1963–1964

First Sea Lords, 1964–present

• Sir David Luce 1964–1966
• Sir Varyl Begg 1966–1968
  

  The Queen and Admiral Sir Alan West, then First Sea Lord embarked on board HMS Endurance during the review of the international fleet. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy 1st Baronet GCB ( 5 April 1769 &ndash 20 September 1839) was a British Rear Admiral George Heneage Lawrence Dundas CB ( 8 September 1778 - 7 October 1834) was a senior naval officer and Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB ( 6 October 1780 – 19 September 1853) was a British naval officer Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB ( 6 October 1780 – 19 September 1853) was a British naval officer Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Parker 1st Baronet, GCB ( 1 December 1781 – 13 November 1866) was born at Almington Admiral Sir Charles Adam, KCB ( 6 October 1780 – 19 September 1853) was a British naval officer Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas GCB ( 4 December 1785 &ndash 3 October 1862) was a British admiral and a First Sea Lord. Admiral Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley 1st Baron FitzHardinge of Bristol, GCB PC ( 3 January 1788 - 17 October For others of the same name see Hyde Parker Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker CB (1786 – 26 May 1854 Admiral Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley 1st Baron FitzHardinge of Bristol, GCB PC ( 3 January 1788 - 17 October Vice Admiral Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, KCB ( 11 April 1802 – 3 June 1861) was a British naval officer and was the Admiral Sir William Fanshawe Martin 4th Baronet GCB ( 5 December 1801 - 24 March 1895) was a senior British Vice Admiral Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, KCB ( 11 April 1802 – 3 June 1861) was a British naval officer and was the Admiral Sir Frederick William Grey GCB ( 23 August 1805 - 2 May 1878) was a senior naval officer and First Sea Lord Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne 1st Baronet, GCB ( 10 November 1806 &ndash 29 December 1896) was a Royal Admiral Sir Sydney Colpoys Dacres GCB ( 1805 - 8 March 1884) was the a senior naval officer and First Sea Lord. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne 1st Baronet, GCB ( 10 November 1806 &ndash 29 December 1896) was a Royal Admiral Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB, born Hastings Reginald Henry (March 1808 – 24 July 1878) was a British naval officer Admiral Sir George Greville Wellesley GCB ( 2 August 1814 - 6 April 1901) was a senior naval officer and First Sea Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key, GCB, ADC, FRS ( 18 January 1821 - 3 March, 1888) English Admiral Arthur William Acland Hood 1st Baron Hood of Avalon GCB ( 14 July, 1824 &ndash 15 November, 1901) was an officer of the Admiral Arthur William Acland Hood 1st Baron Hood of Avalon GCB ( 14 July, 1824 &ndash 15 November, 1901) was an officer of the Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton GCB ( 28 May 1829 - 17 September 1912) was a senior naval officer and First Naval Admiral Sir Anthony Hiley Hoskins GCB (1828-1901 was a British naval officer who was First Sea Lord from 1891 to 1893 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick William Richards GCB ( 30 November 1833 - 28 September 1912) was the British Admiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, GCB ( 28 September 1839 - 12 May 1927 was the British First Sea Admiral of the Fleet John Arbuthnot "Jackie" Fisher 1st Baron Fisher of Kilverstone, GCB, OM, GCVO ( 25 January 1841 Admiral Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman GCB, GCVO ( 7 December 1848 &ndash 17 February 1929) was a Admiral of the Fleet Louis Alexander Mountbatten 1st Marquess of Milford Haven, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, PC (24 May 1854 – 11 September Admiral of the Fleet John Arbuthnot "Jackie" Fisher 1st Baron Fisher of Kilverstone, GCB, OM, GCVO ( 25 January 1841 Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe 1st Earl Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO ( 5 December 1859 &ndash 20 November Admiral of the Fleet Rosslyn Erskine Wemyss 1st Baron Wester Wemyss, GCB, CMG, MVO ( 12 April 1864 &ndash 24 May Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty 1st Earl Beatty GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO (17 January 1871 – 11 March 1936 was an Admiral Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Edward Madden 1st Baronet, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG ( 5 September 1862 &ndash Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Laurence Field GCB KCMG ( 18 April 1871 &ndash 24 October 1945) was a Admiral of the Fleet Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield 1st Baron Chatfield, GCB, OM, KCMG, CVO, PC ( 27 September Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Roland Charles Backhouse GCB, GCVO, CMG, ( 24 November 1878 - 15 July Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound GCB OM GCVO RN ( 29 August 1877 - 21 October Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Bt, KT, GCB, OM, DSO (7 January Admiral of the Fleet Bruce Austin Fraser 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape GCB, KBE ( 5 February 1888 &ndash 12 February Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick Robert McGrigor GCB ( 12 April 1893 - 3 December 1959) was a Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, This article is about the Admiral of the Fleet For Charles Lambe's stepfather the Royal Naval Air Service and RAF officer see Charles Laverack Lambe. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John GCB ( 22 March 1903 - 11 July 1984) was the British First Sea Lord Admiral Sir John David Luce GCB, DSO & Bar, OBE ( 23 January 1906 - 6 January 1971) was First Admiral Sir John David Luce GCB, DSO & Bar, OBE ( 23 January 1906 - 6 January 1971) was First Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Cargill Begg GCB, DSO, DSC ( 1 October 1908 - 13 July 1995) was
• Sir Michael Le Fanu 1968–1970
• Sir Peter Hill-Norton 1970–1971
• Sir Michael Pollock 1971–1974
• Sir Edward Ashmore 1974–1977
• Sir Terence Lewin 1977–1979
• Sir Henry Leach 1979–1982
• Sir John Fieldhouse 1982–1985
• Sir William Staveley 1985–1989
• Sir Julian Oswald 1989–1993
• Sir Benjamin Bathurst 1993–1995
• Sir Jock Slater 1995–1998
• Sir Michael Boyce 1998–2001
• Sir Nigel Essenhigh 2001–2002
• Sir Alan West 2002–2006
• Sir Jonathon Band 2006–present

See also

• Flagship of the First Sea Lord
• Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
• Second Sea Lord
• Third Sea Lord
• Fourth Sea Lord
• Fifth Sea Lord