Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber

Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a title in the Royal Household, found in the Kingdom of Scotland from the 16th century and in the Kingdom of England from the early 17th century (having been introduced, in both places, by James VI and I); the title continued to be used 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 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 practical functions became less important over time, but the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber continued to control access to the monarch; they 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.

Origins

Following the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567, her one year-old son acceded to the throne of Scotland as King James VI. During his minority, a series of regents held power, with government largely exercised through the Privy Council of Scotland. The king grew up in the company of young nobles, in Stirling Castle, until 1579 when, at 13 years old, he made a ceremonial entry into Edinburgh; this signalled the end of the Regency period and the beginning of his adult rule. The Privy Council, however, was still dominated by protegés of the former regent, the Earl of Morton; so, on 15 April 1580, a new establishment was created with the intention of it forming an alternative centre of power to the Privy Council.[2] Taking inspiration from the French court, it was named the 'Bedchamber'. It had a staff of 24 young Gentlemen, overseen by Esmé Stewart in the office of Lord Chamberlain. The Gentlemen, who were invariably sons of nobles and of barons, did duty in rotation for three months at a time. Throughout the year there were always at least four Gentlemen of the Bedchamber in attendance at the Scottish royal court.

On acceding to the throne of England, king James introduced the Bedchamber to the English court. Once in place, it quickly supplanted the Privy Chamber (its erstwhile Tudor equivalent) in importance and influence. It maintained a decidedly Scottish entourage around the king to begin with: numbered among the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber was only a single Englishman until 1615, when a second was appointed; in all, ten of the fifteen Gentlemen appointed by James I were Scots.[2]

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.[3] The duties of the office involved waiting on the King when he ate in private, helping him to dress, guarding the bedchamber and closet, and providing companionship.[3]

After the Restoration, the office of first gentleman of the bedchamber was invariably combined with that of Groom of the Stole.[3] 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. The female counterparts to the Gentlemen (or Lords) of the Bedchamber were the Ladies of the Bedchamber (appointed by Queens regnant and consort alike). Working under the Gentlemen, in the same location, were the Grooms of the Bedchamber.

Below is an incomplete list of noblemen who have served as Gentlemen of the Bedchamber or Lords of the Bedchamber:

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;[37] but was subsequently referred to as "Lord in Waiting", or "Permanent Lord in Waiting", to His Majesty.[38]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lords of the Bedchamber". Glued Ideas. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 Brown, Keith M. (2013). Noble Power in Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 182–187. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 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.
  4. ↑ G. Dyfnallt Owen, HMC 75 Downshire, vol. 5 (London: HMSO, 1995), p. 202 no. 423.
  5. ↑ Taliaferro, Henry (1996). "Thomas Smith of Fairfax County, Virginia". The Virginia Genealogist. 40 (Q1 1996): Page 3. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  6. ↑ Gillan, Caroline (2018). Lord Bute and Eighteenth-Century Science and Patronage (PDF). PhD degree, Department of History, National University of Ireland. p. 1.
  7. ↑ 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, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
  8. ↑ "STANHOPE, Philip Dormer, Lord Stanhope (1694-1773)". History of parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "PAGET, Thomas Catesby, Lord Paget (1689-1742)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "MANNERS, Lord William (1697-1772), of Croxton Park, Lincs". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "COVENTRY, George William, Visct. Deerhurst (1722-1809), of Croome Court, Worcs". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "HOBART, John, Lord Hobart (1723-93), of Blickling, Norf". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "ST. LEGER, Arthur Mohun, 3rd Visct. Doneraile [I] (1718-50)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "MANNERS SUTTON, Lord Robert (1722-62), of Kelham, Notts". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  15. ↑ "BERTIE, Lord Robert (1721-82), of Chislehurst, Kent". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "LEE, George Henry, Visct. Quarendon (1718-72), of Quarrendon, Bucks., Ditchley Park and Spelsbury, Oxon". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "HOBART, John, Lord Hobart (1723-93), of Blickling, Norf". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  18. ↑ "HARLEY, Edward, Lord Harley (1726-90)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  19. ↑ "BERKELEY, Norborne (?1717-70), of Stoke Gifford, near Bristol, Glos". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "FINCH, Heneage, Lord Guernsey (1751-1812)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  21. ↑ "PITT, George (1721-1803), of Strathfieldsaye, Hants". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  22. ↑ "TOWNSHEND, Hon. John Thomas (1764-1831)". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  23. ↑ "PITT, George (1751-1828), of Strathfieldsaye, Hants". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  24. ↑ "LAMB, Peniston (1745-1828), of Brocket Hall, Herts. and Melbourne Hall, Derbys". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  25. ↑ A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain & Ireland
  26. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 3 August 1830.
  27. ↑ The London Gazette, 10 August 1830.
  28. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 18 March 1831.
  29. ↑ The London Gazette, 26 August 1831.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette, 7 October 1831.
  31. ↑ The London Gazette, 25 May 1832.
  32. ↑ The London Gazette, 27 November 1832.
  33. ↑ "CAVENDISH, see Henry Manners, Henry Manners, 3rd Bar. Waterpark [I] (1793-1863), of Doveridge Hall, Derbys". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  34. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette
  35. ↑ Edinburgh GazetteEdinburgh Gazette
  36. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette
  37. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette
  38. ↑ Edinburgh GazetteEdinburgh Gazette
  39. ↑ 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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