The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was the officer responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy. The title is now simply Controller of the Navy (CofN). The Controller is a member of the Admiralty Board. Procurement is the acquisition of goods or services at the best possible total cost of ownership, in the right quantity and quality, at the right time, in the right place for the direct benefit or use of the governments, corporations, or individuals generally via, but not limited to a contract. ... Matériel (from the French for equipment or hardware, related to the word material) is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... For the Admiralty Board of Imperial Russia, see Admiralty Board (Russia). ...

The post of Controller of the Navy (sometimes called "Comptroller") was in existence by the 1500s and originally ran the business of the Navy Board until its abolition in 1831. For the international law of the sea, see Admiralty law. ...

In the reorganisation of the Admiralty by Order in Council of 14 January 1869, the Controller of the Navy was given a seat on the Board of Admiralty as the Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (also sometimes known as the Third Naval Lord until 1905). The Controller lost the title of Third Sea Lord and the seat on the Board by an Order in Council of 19 March 1872, but regained them by a further Order of 10 March 1882.^[1] Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth of Nations which is formally made in the name of the Queen by the Privy Council (Queen-in-Council), or the Governor-General in a Commonwealth realm or Governor by the Executive Council... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ...

In 1869, the post of Storekeeper-General of the Navy was abolished and its duties merged into those of the Controller of the Navy.^[2]

The appointment of Controller of the Navy was abolished in September 1912, although that of Third Sea Lord remained.^[3] In 1917 the post of Controller of the Navy was revived, but as a separate civilian position with a seat on the Board of Admiralty.^[4] In 1918, the post was once again amalgamated with that of Third Sea Lord.

The title of Third Sea Lord appears to have disappeared in the 1980s, although that of Controller of the Navy remains.

Until after the Second World War, the Third Sea Lord was usually a Rear-Admiral on appointment, although he could be promoted while he held the position. In the 19th century, he was often a Captain on appointment, although usually promoted Rear-Admiral soon afterwards. From the late 1940s the post increased in prestige and the holder was usually a Vice-Admiral on appointment, although always promoted Admiral during his term of office. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Insignia of a United States Rear Admiral Upper Half Insignia of a United States Rear Admiral Lower Half Rear Admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank that originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons and can trace its origins to the Royal Navy. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ...

List of Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy

Controllers of the Navy (up to 1869)

• William Holstocke, 1561–1589
• William Borough
• Sir Henry Palmer
• Sir Guylford Slingsby
• George Carteret, 1641–1642
• Sir Henry Palmer, 1642–?
• Sir John Mennes, 1661–1671
• Sir Thomas Allin, 1671–1680
• Captain Sir Richard Haddock, 1682–1686, 1688–1715
• Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Wager, 1715–1718
• Captain Richard Haddock, ?–1749
• Captain Savage Mostyn, 1749–1755
• Captain Charles Saunders, 1755–1756
• George Cockburne, ?–1770
• Captain Sir Hugh Palliser, 1770–1775
• Captain Maurice Suckling, 1775–1778
• Admiral Charles Middleton, 1778–1794
• Admiral Sir Andrew Hamond, 1794–1806
• Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Thompson, 1806–1816
• Admiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin, 1816–1831
• Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1860–1861
• Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Spencer Robinson, 1861–1869

Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet (c. ... Sir Charles Wager (1666 - 1743) was a British Admiral and First Lord of the Admiralty between 1733 and 1742. ... Sir Charles Saunders, KB (c. ... Sir Hugh Palliser (22 February 1722 or 1723 – 19 March 1796) was a British naval officer and the Governor of Newfoundland (a Commodore-Governor) from 1764 – 1768. ... Captain Maurice Suckling (1726-88) Maurice Suckling joined the Royal Navy, was in command of Dreadnought 60, in action off Cape François on October 21, 1757. ... Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (October 14, 1726) - (June 17, 1813) was a British sailor and politician. ... Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, 1st Baronet (December 17, 1738 – September 12, 1828) was a British naval officer and British Governor of Nova Scotia from 1781 to 1782. ... Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1st Baronet KCB (6 January 1802 -- 12 February 1876) was an officer in the Royal Navy. ...

Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy (1869–1872)

• Admiral Sir Robert Spencer Robinson, 1869–1871
• Captain Robert Hall, 1871–1872

Controllers of the Navy (1872–1882)

• Captain Robert Hall, 1872
• Vice-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, 1872–1881
• Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 1881–1882

Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy (1882–1912)

• Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 1882–1885
• Vice-Admiral Sir William Graham, 1885–1888
• Vice-Admiral John Hopkins, 1888–1892
• Vice-Admiral Sir John Fisher, 1892–1897
• Rear-Admiral Arthur Knyvet Wilson, 1897–1901
• Rear-Admiral William May, 1901–1905
• Rear-Admiral Sir Henry Jackson, 1905–1908
• Rear-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, 1908–1910
• Rear-Admiral Charles Briggs, 1910–1912
• Rear-Admiral Gordon Moore, 1912

John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher (January 25, 1841 – July 10, 1920), commonly known as Jackie Fisher, was a British admiral known for his efforts at naval reform. ... Arthur Knyvet Wilson (VC, GCB, OM, GCVO) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson was born in 1855 and died in 1929. ... Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe (December 5, 1859- November 20, 1935) was a British Royal Navy admiral. ...

Third Sea Lords (1912–1918)

• Rear-Admiral Gordon Moore, 1912–1914
• Rear-Admiral Charles Madden, 1914
• Rear-Admiral Gordon Moore,1914
• Rear-Admiral Frederick Tudor, 1914–1917
• Rear-Admiral Lionel Halsey, 1917–1918

Sir Charles Madden when he was Vice Admiral. ...

Controllers of the Navy (1917–1918)

• Vice-Admiral Sir Eric Geddes^[5], 1917
• Sir Alan Garrett Anderson, 1917–1918

Sir Eric Campbell Geddes (26 September 1875-22 June 1937) was a British politician. ...

Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy (1918–?)

• Rear-Admiral Sir Charles de Bartolomé, 1918–1919
• Rear-Admiral Sir William Nicholson, 1919–1920
• Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, 1920–1923
• Rear-Admiral Cyril Fuller, 1923–1925
• Vice-Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield, 1925–1928
• Vice-Admiral Roger Backhouse, 1928–1932
• Vice-Admiral Charles Forbes, 1932–1934
• Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, 1934–1939
• Vice-Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, 1939–1942
• Admiral Sir Frederic Wake-Walker, 1942–1945
• Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1945–1946
• Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Daniel, 1946–1949
• Admiral Sir Michael Denny, 1949–1953
• Admiral Sir Ralph Edwards, 1953–1956
• Admiral Sir Peter Reid, 1956–1961
• Admiral Sir Michael Le Fanu, 1961–1965
• Admiral Sir Horace Law, 1965–1970
• Admiral Sir Michael Pollock, 1970–1971
• Admiral Sir Anthony Griffin, 1971–1976
• Admiral Sir Richard Clayton, 1976–1979
• Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, 1979–1981
• Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, 1981–1984
• Admiral Sir Derek Reffell, 1984–

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Laurence Field GCB KCMG (18 April 1871–24 October 1945) was a British Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet who served as First Sea Lord from 1930 to 1933. ... Admiral of the Fleet Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield, PC, RN (1873-1967) was a British naval officer and held the position of First Sea Lord from 1933 to 1938. ... Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Roland Charles Backhouse GCB, GCVO, CMG, (24 November 1878-15 July 1939) was an Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy and First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty from 1939 to 1939. ... Bruce Fraser, Baron Fraser of North Cape (February 5, 1888–February 12, 1981) was a senior British admiral during World War II. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet during the later stages of the naval war in Europe, and during that period he commanded the fleet that... Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Le Fanu (August 2, 1913-November 28, 1970) was a British Royal Navy admiral who was appointed in 1970 to become Chief of the Defence Staff but never managed to hold the office because he was suddenly discovered to be terminally ill and retired... Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Patrick Pollock, GCB, LVO, DSC (19 October 1916 - 27 September 2006) was a British officer in the Royal Navy who rose to become First Sea Lord from 1971 to 1974. ... Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse, GCB, GBE (12 February 1928–17 February 1992) was a high ranking officer in the Royal Navy Primarily a submariner in the Royal Navy, later rising to the highest position in UK Armed Forces In 1982 in the rank of...

Controllers of the Navy (?–present)

• Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley, ?–1997
• Rear-Admiral Peter Spencer, 1997–2000

Footnotes

November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ...

See also

• First Sea Lord
• Second Sea Lord
• Fourth Sea Lord
• Fifth Sea Lord