Isaac Newton, Warden of the Mint from 1696–1699

Warden of the Mint was a high-ranking position at the Royal Mint in England from 1216 to 1829. The warden was responsible for a variety of minting procedures and acted as the immediate representative of the current monarch inside the mint. The role of warden changed greatly through history with the original task being the receiving, assay and payment for bullion,[1] while later evolving into more of an administerial role.

The office received a yearly emolument of £500. Up until 1685, wardens were given tenure: many of them died while in office.[2] Although technically subordinate to the Master of the Mint whose job was act as a contractor to the crown, many wardens advanced later on to become Master of the Mint with some wardens holding both offices at the same time.

The most illustrious holder of the office of Warden of the Mint was Isaac Newton, who was warranted to this position on the recommendation of his friend, Charles Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1698. In 1699 however, Newton undertook the office of Master of the Mint, which was far more lucrative, as well as potentially more technically challenging. After the death in 1829 of the final warden, Sir Walter James, 1st Baronet, the office was abolished having existed for 613 years.

Warden of the Mint

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2017)
Tenure Notes
1193 Henry de Cornhill [3]
1197 Odo Parvus and others [3]
1202 Hugh Oisel [3]
1203 Wido de Vou [3]
1204 Hugh Oisel [3]
1208 Nigel Ruffus and Odo Varvus [3]
1216–1222 Hubert de Berg [4]
1222 Hger [3]
1224 Alexander [3]
1229 Riehard Reinger London and Canterbury [3]
1243 Otto Fitz William [3]
1245 William Hardel London and Canterbury [3]
1247 Walter de Flemeng [3]
1248 William Hardel

Walter de More

London and Canterbury [3]
1251 J. Silvestre [3]
1252 J. de Somercote [3]
1258 William the King's Goldsmith London and Canterbury [3]
1266 B. de Castell and Richard de Geoffrey [3]
1270–1279 Bartholomew de Castello [4]
1279–1292 Gregory de Rokesley Shared Role [2]
1279–1281 Orlando di Poggio [2]
1292–1296 William of Wymondham [1]
1297–1298 Peter of Leicester [1]
1298–1305 John Sandale [1]
c1319 Augustine le Waleys [4]
1331 Richard de Snowshill
c1337 John de Wyndsore [4]
1343 George Kirkyn, Lotte Nicholyn [1]
1334 William of Wakefield [1]
1334 John of Fleet [5]
1346 George Kirkyn, Lotte Nicholyn [1]
1349 John Donati de Castello, Philip John de Neri, Benedict Isbari (killed 1381) [1]
1375–1376 Richard Lyons Executed on 14 June 1381 during the Peasants' Revolt [6]
1376–1377 Thomas Hervey [1]
1377–1388 John Gurtmonchester [1]
1389–1392 Guy Rocliffe [1]
1392–1399 Andrew Newport [1]
1399–1403 Robert Heathcote [1]
1408–1411 David de Nigarellis of Lucca [7]
1411–1439 Henry Somer [1]
1439–1446 John Somerset [8]
1446–1449 John Lematon [9]
1449–1468 Thomas Montgomery [1]
1468–1470 John Wode [1]
1470–1471 John Langstrother Joint Wardens both

executed Tewkesbury 1471

[1]
1471-1471 Sir John Delves
1471 John Wode (re-instated) [10]
1534–1536 Sir Thomas Pope [1]
1536–1544 John Browne [1]
1560–1595 Sir Richard Martin Acted as Master of the Mint from 1581-1617 [11]
1599–1609 Thomas Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet [12]
1609–1621 Thomas Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet and Edmund Doubleday [12]
1621 Henry Tweedy [2]
1623 Sir Edward Villiers Sir William Parkhurst died 1626 [2]
1629–1642 Sir William Parkhurst and Sir Anthony St Leger [2]
1642–1645 Holland (appointed by Parliament) [2]
1645 John St John (appointed by Parliament) [2]
1660–1666 Sir William Parkhurst [2]
1660–1680 Sir Anthony St Leger died 1680 [2]
1681 Sir Thomas Wharton (died 1684) and son Philip Wharton [2]
1685–1686 Sir Philip Lloyd [2]
1686–1690 Owen Wynne [2]
1690 Benjamin Overton [2]
1696–1699 Sir Isaac Newton Promoted to Master of the Mint in 1699 [13]
1700 Sir John Stanley, 1st Baronet [2]
1708–1714 Craven Peyton Appointed in April 1708 and removed from office in December 1714 [14]
1714 Sir Richard Sandford, 3rd Baronet [2]
1718 William Thompson [2]
1725 Walter Cary [2]
1727 Sir Andrew Fountaine [15]
1754 Richard Herbert (died 1754) [2]
1754 John Jeffreys [2]
1766 William Whitmore [2]
1771 Sir Robert Pigot, 2nd Baronet [2]
1796–1829 Sir Walter James, 1st Baronet (the last Warden; he died in 1829) [2] [2]
1829 Office abolished

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Craig 1953.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Wardens of the Mint 1572-1869". history.ac.uk. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Ruding 1840, p. 26
  4. ^ a b c d Ruding 1840, p. 26-29.
  5. ^ Challis 1992, p. 155.
  6. ^ Sharpe 2016, p. 60.
  7. ^ Clark 2014, p. 185.
  8. ^ Clark 2014.
  9. ^ Challis 1992, p. 176.
  10. ^ Challis 1992, p. 181.
  11. ^ "Sir Richard Martin: Treatise on the Reorganisation of the Mint". Cambridge University Library. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b Challis 1989, p. 168.
  13. ^ "The Life of Isaac Newton". Royal Mint. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  14. ^ "PEYTON, Craven (c.1663-1738), of Stratton Street, Westminster". The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  15. ^ Craig 1953, p. 206.

Bibliography

External links

The Royal Mint
Royal Household in England, Scotland and the United Kingdom
Categories