Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a title in the Royal Household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain. A Lord of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household; the term being first used in 1718.[1] The duties of the Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber originally consisted of assisting the monarch with dressing, waiting on him when he ate, guarding access to his bedchamber and closet and providing companionship. Such functions became less important over time, but provided proximity to the monarch; the holders were thus trusted confidants and often extremely powerful. The offices were in the gift of The Crown and were originally sworn by Royal Warrant directed to the Lord Chamberlain.

This is an incomplete list of noblemen who have served as Lord of the Bedchamber or Gentleman of the Bedchamber:

Description and functions

There were always several holders of the office, who were invariably gentlemen and almost invariably peers, often important ones, as the regular access to the monarch which the role brought was the most valuable commodity of the courtier.[2] The duties of the office involved waiting on the King when he ate in private, helping him to dress, guarding the bedchamber and water closet, and providing companionship.[2]

From 1660 the office of first gentleman of the bedchamber was invariably combined with that of Groom of the Stool.[2] On average the number of Gentlemen varied around 12 but fluctuated from time to time. During the reign of James II there were only eight, and none were appointed during the reign of Queen Anne.

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to James I of England (1603–1625)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Charles I of England (1625–1649)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Charles II of England (1660–1685)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to James II of England (1685–1688)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to William III of England (1689–1702)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark (1702–1708)

Gentlemen and Lords of the Bedchamber to George I of Great Britain (1714–1727)

Lord

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George II of Great Britain (1714–1760)

Lords

Gentlemen

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales (1729–1751)

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George III of the United Kingdom (1751–1820)

Lords

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George IV of the United Kingdom (1780–1830)

Lord

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to William IV of the United Kingdom (1830–1837)

Lords of the Bedchamber to King William IV (1830–1837)

Gentlemen

Lords of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert (1840–1861)

Lords of the Bedchamber to Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1866–1901)

Following Edward's accession to the throne, Baron Suffield was gazetted as a "Lord in Waiting" to the King.

Lords of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Wales (1901–1910), later King George V (1910-1936)

Following George's accession to the throne, Baron Annaly was initially gazetted as "Lord of the Bedchamber in Waiting" to the king;[35] but was subsequently referred to as "Lord in Waiting".

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lords of the Bedchamber". Glued Ideas. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c R. O. Bucholz, "The bedchamber: Gentlemen of the Bedchamber", Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660-1837 (2006), pp. 14–19 accessed 13 October 2018.
  3. ^ Taliaferro, Henry (1996). "Thomas Smith of Fairfax County, Virginia". The Virginia Genealogist. 40 (Q1 1996): Page 3. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. ^ Gillan, Caroline (2018). Lord Bute and Eighteenth-Century Science and Patronage (PDF). PhD degree, Department of History, National University of Ireland. p. 1.
  5. ^ Spain, Jonathan (2004). "Keppel, William Anne, second earl of Albemarle". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15443. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. ^ "STANHOPE, Philip Dormer, Lord Stanhope (1694-1773)". History of parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  7. ^ "PAGET, Thomas Catesby, Lord Paget (1689-1742)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. ^ "MANNERS, Lord William (1697-1772), of Croxton Park, Lincs". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  9. ^ "COVENTRY, George William, Visct. Deerhurst (1722-1809), of Croome Court, Worcs". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. ^ "HOBART, John, Lord Hobart (1723-93), of Blickling, Norf". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  11. ^ "ST. LEGER, Arthur Mohun, 3rd Visct. Doneraile [I] (1718-50)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  12. ^ "MANNERS SUTTON, Lord Robert (1722-62), of Kelham, Notts". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. ^ "BERTIE, Lord Robert (1721-82), of Chislehurst, Kent". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  14. ^ "LEE, George Henry, Visct. Quarendon (1718-72), of Quarrendon, Bucks., Ditchley Park and Spelsbury, Oxon". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  15. ^ "HOBART, John, Lord Hobart (1723-93), of Blickling, Norf". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  16. ^ "HARLEY, Edward, Lord Harley (1726-90)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  17. ^ "BERKELEY, Norborne (?1717-70), of Stoke Gifford, near Bristol, Glos". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  18. ^ "FINCH, Heneage, Lord Guernsey (1751-1812)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  19. ^ "PITT, George (1721-1803), of Strathfieldsaye, Hants". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  20. ^ "TOWNSHEND, Hon. John Thomas (1764-1831)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  21. ^ "PITT, George (1751-1828), of Strathfieldsaye, Hants". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  22. ^ "LAMB, Peniston (1745-1828), of Brocket Hall, Herts. and Melbourne Hall, Derbys". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  23. ^ A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain & Ireland
  24. ^ The Edinburgh Gazette, 3 August 1830.
  25. ^ The London Gazette, 10 August 1830.
  26. ^ The Edinburgh Gazette, 18 March 1831.
  27. ^ The London Gazette, 26 August 1831.
  28. ^ The London Gazette, 7 October 1831.
  29. ^ The London Gazette, 25 May 1832.
  30. ^ The London Gazette, 27 November 1832.
  31. ^ "CAVENDISH, see Henry Manners, Henry Manners, 3rd Bar. Waterpark [I] (1793-1863), of Doveridge Hall, Derbys". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  32. ^ Edinburgh Gazette
  33. ^ Edinburgh GazetteEdinburgh Gazette
  34. ^ Edinburgh Gazette
  35. ^ Edinburgh Gazette
  36. ^ Velde, François R. (2004-08-24). "La Maison du Roi (The King's Household)". French Heraldry and Related Topics. Heraldica.org. Retrieved 2007-11-22.

Sources

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