View source for First Sea Lord

{{Short description|Professional head of the UK's Royal Navy}}
{{distinguish|text=[[First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]], or [[Admiral of the Fleet (United Kingdom)]]}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = First Sea Lord and <br />Chief of the Naval Staff
| body = 
| native_name = 
| flag = Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = [[List of command flags of the Royal Navy#incumbent First Sea Lord|Admiral's command flag]]
| image = Commandant_General_Royal_Marines_2022_(cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| incumbent = General [[Gwyn Jenkins|Sir Gwyn Jenkins]]
| acting = no
| incumbentsince = 27 May 2025
| department = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]<br/>[[Royal Navy]]
| style = General
| member_of = [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]]<br/> [[Admiralty Board (United Kingdom)|Admiralty Board]]<br/>[[Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| reports_to = [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]]
| residence = 
| seat = 
| nominator = [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the [[King-in-Council]]
| termlength = Not fixed
| termlength_qualified = typically 3–4 years
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor = 
| formation = Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771)<br/>First Naval Lord (1771–1904)<br/>First Sea Lord (from 1904)
| first = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington|Arthur Herbert]] (as Senior Naval Lord)<br/>[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] Sir [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|John Fisher]] (as First Sea Lord)
| last = 
| abolished = 
| succession = 
| abbreviation = 1SL/CNS
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Deputy First Sea Lord]] (1917-1919, 1942-1946)<br/> [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] (1941–1946)<br/>[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (United Kingdom)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]
| salary = 
| website = {{Official|https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/our-people/leadership}}
}}
'''First Sea Lord''', officially known as '''First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff''' ('''1SL/CNS'''), is the title of a statutory position in the [[British Armed Forces]], held by an [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|admiral]] or a [[General (United Kingdom)|general]] of the [[Royal Marines]]. As the highest-ranking officer to serve in the [[Royal Navy]], the chief is the principal [[military advisor]] on matters pertaining to the navy and a deputy to the [[Secretary of State for Defence]]. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the [[Chiefs of Staff Committee]] and, thereby, a military advisor to the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]], the [[Prime minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]] and the [[monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch]]. The First Sea Lord is typically the highest-ranking officer on [[active duty]] of the Royal Navy unless the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] is a naval officer. The post is currently held by General [[Gwyn Jenkins|Sir Gwyn Jenkins]].

Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689,{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}} the office was re-styled '''First Naval Lord''' in 1771.{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}} The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805,{{sfn|Thomas|1988|p=31}} and the title of the office was changed to '''First Sea Lord''' on the appointment of Sir [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|John "Jackie" Fisher]] in 1904. Since 1923, the First Sea Lord has been a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; they now sit on the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]] and the [[Admiralty Board]].<ref name=firstsealordandchiefofnavalstaff>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/aboutdefence/people/chiefsofstaff/firstsealordandchiefofnavalstaff.htm |publisher=MoD |title=People – First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122001312/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/People/ChiefsOfStaff/FirstSeaLordAndChiefOfNavalStaff.htm |archive-date=22 November 2012 |accessdate= 23 July 2013}}</ref>

== Responsibilities ==
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and a member of the Defence Council. He is responsible to the Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service. As a member of the Defence Council, the First Sea Lord supports the Secretary of State in the management and direction of the Armed Forces through prerogative and statutory powers. As a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he advises <abbr>CDS</abbr> on maritime strategy and policy. He has a collective responsibility for providing strategic direction to the department, managing performance and ensuring that defence delivers the required outputs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ben-key |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under the [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>

==History==
[[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lords Admiral]] were appointed from the 15th century; they were later styled ''Lords High Admiral'' until the 18th century, and [[Board of Admiralty|Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty]] from the 17th century, as the governors of the English and later British [[Royal Navy]]. From 1683 to 1684, there were seven paid Commissioners, and one unpaid supernumerary Commissioner. The number varied between five and seven Commissioners through the 18th century. The standing of all the Commissioners was in theory the same, although the First Commissioner or [[First Lord of the Admiralty|First Lord]] exercised an ascendancy over his colleagues from an early date.{{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}

The generally recognized office of '''Senior Naval Lord''' to the Board of Admiralty was established on 8 March 1689,{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}} with the first incumbent being Admiral [[Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington|Arthur Herbert]]; he was also First Lord of the Admiralty. On 20 January 1690 Admiral Herbert was succeeded by Admiral Sir [[John Chicheley]]{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}} under First Lord of Admiralty [[Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke]].{{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}

On 22 May 1702 the Board of Admiralty ceased control of naval affairs and was replaced by the [[Lord High Admirals Council|Lord Admiral's Council]].{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}} The previous office of Senior Naval Lord was replaced by a '''Senior Member to the Lords Admiral Council'''; he was usually a serving naval officer of admiral rank and was the ''Chief Naval Adviser'' to the Lord Admiral. This lasted until 8 November 1709, when the Board of Admiralty resumed control of Naval Affairs and the post of Senior Naval Lord was resumed.{{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}

On 2 February 1771 the office of Senior Naval Lord was renamed to '''First Naval Lord'''.{{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}} The first post holder was Vice-Admiral [[Augustus Hervey]]; he first served under First Lord of the Admiralty [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich]]. In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents.{{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}} On 2 May 1827{{sfn|Rodger| 1979|p=91}} the Board of Admiralty once again ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced, until 1828, by a Lord High Admirals Council.{{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}

The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to '''First Sea Lord''' on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904.{{sfn|Heathcote|2002| p= 81}} In 1917 the First Sea Lord was re-styled '''First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff'''.{{sfn|Friedman|2015|p=21}} From 1923 onward, the First Sea Lord was a member of the [[Chiefs of Staff Committee]], and from 1923 to 1959, in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] and [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]), he served as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces.{{efn|In 1955, it was decided to create a new post, [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], who would be chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1955/oct/25/defence-administrative-responsibilities Defence Administrative Responsibilities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017103155/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1955/oct/25/defence-administrative-responsibilities |date=17 October 2012 }} Hansard, 25 October 1955</ref>}} The title was retained when the [[Board of Admiralty]] was abolished in 1964 and the Board's functions were integrated into the Ministry of Defence.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49053/history_of_mod.pdf |title=History of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence website |publisher=Mod.uk |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref>

Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]],<ref name= NavyListModern>''The Navy List, 1992'', corrected to 31 March 1992, pub HMSO, {{ISSN|0141-6081}} pages 4–5.<br>''The Navy List, 2008'', compiled 3 September 2008, pub TSO, {{ISBN|978-0-11-773081-6}} pages 4–5.</ref> the [[Admiralty Board]]<ref name=NavyListModern/> and the [[Navy Board (1964-present)|Navy Board]].<ref>{{cite web|title=MOD Royal Navy|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-naval-staff/first-sea-lord/navy-board|access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

Since 2012, the [[flagship]] of the First Sea Lord has nominally been the [[ship of the line]] [[HMS Victory|HMS ''Victory'']], which used to be [[Horatio Nelson|Lord Nelson's]] flagship.<ref name=hmsvictory>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-19896257 HMS Victory handed to First Sea Lord in Portsmouth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306084333/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-19896257 |date=6 March 2019 }}, BBC News, 10 October 2012, accessed 8 October 2016</ref>

{{Professional heads of the British Armed Forces}}

==Appointees==
The following table lists all those who have held the post of First Sea Lord or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| showtermlenght     = y
| showelection       = n
| showcabinet        = n
| showparty          = n
| showref            = y
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=7|'''Senior Naval Lords'''
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = Arthur Herbert (c.1648–1716), 1st Earl of Torrington.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| officeholder      = [[Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington|Arthur Herbert]]
| officeholder_sort = Herbert, Arthur
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1648}}
| died_year         = 1716
| term_start        = 8 March 1689
| term_end          = 20 January 1690
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1689|03|08|1690|01|20}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Sir John Chichley circa 1640-1691 by Jacob Huysmans.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]]
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Chicheley]]
| officeholder_sort = Chicheley, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1640}}
| died_year         = 1691
| term_start        = 20 January 1690
| term_end          = 5 June 1690
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1690|01|20|1690|06|05}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =3
| image             = Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
| officeholder      = [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford|Edward Russell]]
| officeholder_sort = Russell, Edward
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1653
| died_year         = 1727
| term_start        = 5 June 1690
| term_end          =23 January 1691
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1690|06|05|1691|01|23}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =4
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]]
| officeholder      = [[Henry Priestman (Royal Navy officer)|Henry Priestman]]
| officeholder_sort = Priestman, Henry
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1647}}
| died_year         = 1712
| term_start        = 23 January 1691
| term_end          =2 May 1694
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1691|01|23|1694|05|02}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(3)
| image             = Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford]]
| officeholder_sort = Russell, Edward
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1653
| died_year         = 1727
| term_start        = 2 May 1694
| term_end          =31 May 1699 
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1694|05|02|1699|05|31}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =5
| image             = George Rooke2.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[George Rooke]]
| officeholder_sort = Rooke, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1650
| died_year         = 1709
| term_start        = 31 May 1699
| term_end          =26 January 1702
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1699|05|31|1702|01|26}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 34}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =6
| image             = John Leake by Godfrey Kneller.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Leake]]
| officeholder_sort = Leake, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1656
| died_year         = 1720
| term_start        = 8 November 1709
| term_end          =4 October 1710
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1709|11|08|1710|10|04}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52>Rodger, p. 51-52</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =7
| image             = George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by Jeremiah Davison.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|George Byng]]
| officeholder_sort = Byng, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1663
| died_year         = 1733
| term_start        = 4 October 1710
| term_end          =30 September 1712
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1710|10|04|1712|09|30}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(6)
| image             = John Leake by Godfrey Kneller.jpg 
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Leake]]
| officeholder_sort = Leake, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1656
| died_year         = 1720
| term_start        = 30 September 1712
| term_end          =14 October 1714
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1712|09|30|1714|10|14}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(7)
| image             = George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by Jeremiah Davison.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|George Byng]]
| officeholder_sort = Byng, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1663
| died_year         = 1733
| term_start        = 14 October 1714
| term_end          =16 April 1717
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1714|10|14|1717|04|16}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =8
| image             = MatthewAylmer.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer|Matthew Aylmer]]
| officeholder_sort = Aylmer, Matthew
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1650}}
| died_year         = 1720
| term_start        = 16 April 1717
| term_end          =19 March 1718
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1717|04|16|1718|03|19}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(7)
| image             = George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by Jeremiah Davison.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|George Byng]]
| officeholder_sort = Byng, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1663
| died_year         = 1733
| term_start        = 19 March 1718
| term_end          =30 September 1721
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1718|03|19|1721|09|30}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =9
| image             = Admiral John Jennings (1664-1743), by Godfrey Kneller.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Jennings (Royal Navy officer)|John Jennings]]
| officeholder_sort = Jennings, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1664
| died_year         = 1743
| term_start        = 30 September 1721
| term_end          =1 June 1727
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1721|09|30|1727|06|01}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =10
| image             = John Norris.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Norris (Royal Navy officer)|John Norris]]
| officeholder_sort = Norris, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1670}}
| died_year         = 1749
| term_start        = 1 June 1727
| term_end          =13 May 1730
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1727|06|01|1730|05|13}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =11
| image             = Portrait of Admiral Sir Charles Wager (by Thomas Gibson).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Charles Wager]]
| officeholder_sort = Wager, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1666
| died_year         = 1743
| term_start        = 13 May 1730
| term_end          =23 June 1733
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1730|05|13|1733|06|23}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =12
| image             = Archibald Hamilton of Riccarton and Pardovan.jpg
| military_rank     = Captain
| officeholder      = [[Lord Archibald Hamilton]]
| officeholder_sort = Hamilton, Archibald
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1673
| died_year         = 1754
| term_start        = 23 June 1733
| term_end          =13 March 1738
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1733|06|23|1738|03|13}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =13
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = 
| officeholder      = [[Harry Powlett, 4th Duke of Bolton|Lord Harry Powlett]]
| officeholder_sort = Powlett, Harry
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1691
| died_year         = 1759
| term_start        = 13 March 1738
| term_end          =19 March 1742
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1738|03|13|1742|03|19}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(12)
| image             = Archibald Hamilton of Riccarton and Pardovan.jpg
| military_rank     = Captain
| officeholder      = [[Lord Archibald Hamilton]]
| officeholder_sort = Hamilton, Archibald
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1673
| died_year         = 1754
| term_start        = 19 March 1742
| term_end          =25 March 1746
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1742|03|19|1746|03|25}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =14
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere|Lord Vere Beauclerk]]
| officeholder_sort = Beauclerk, Vere
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1699
| died_year         = 1781
| term_start        = 25 March 1746
| term_end          =18 November 1749
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1746|03|25|1749|11|18}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =15
| image             = 1stLordAnson.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[George Anson, 1st Baron Anson]]
| officeholder_sort = Anson, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1697
| died_year         = 1762
| term_start        = 18 November 1749
| term_end          =22 June 1751
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1749|11|18|1751|06|22}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| image             = Williamrowley.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[William Rowley (Royal Navy officer)|William Rowley]]
| officeholder_sort = Rowley, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1690}}
| died_year         = 1768
| term_start        = 22 June 1751
| term_end          = 17 November 1756
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1751|06|22|1756|11|17}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =17
| image             = Edward Boscawen by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Vice-admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]]
| officeholder      =[[Edward Boscawen]]
| officeholder_sort = Boscawen, Edward
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1711
| died_year         = 1761
| term_start        = 17 November 1756
| term_end          =6 April 1757
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1756|11|17|1757|04|06}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(16)
| image             = Williamrowley.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      =Sir [[William Rowley (Royal Navy officer)|William Rowley]]
| officeholder_sort = Rowley, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1690}}
| died_year         = 1768
| term_start        = 6 April 1757
| term_end          =2 July 1757
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1757|04|06|1757|07|02}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(17)
| image             = Edward Boscawen by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      =[[Edward Boscawen]]
| officeholder_sort = Boscawen, Edward
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1711
| died_year         = 1761
| term_start        = 2 July 1757
| term_end          = 10 January 1761
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1757|07|02|1761|01|10}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =18
| image             = John Forbes portrait.jpg 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      =[[John Forbes (Royal Navy officer)|John Forbes]]
| officeholder_sort = Forbes, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1714
| died_year         = 1796
| term_start        = 19 March 1761
| term_end          =20 April 1763
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1761|03|19|1763|04|20}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =19
| image             = Admiral Richard Howe, 1726-99, 1st Earl Howe RMG BHC2790.tiff 
| military_rank     = Captain
| officeholder      =[[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe]]
| officeholder_sort = Howe, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1726
| died_year         = 1799
| term_start        = 20 April 1763
| term_end          =31 July 1765
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1763|04|20|1765|07|31}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =20
| image             = Sir Charles Saunders2.jpg 
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Charles Saunders (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Saunders]]
| officeholder_sort = Saunders, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1715}}
| died_year         = 1775
| term_start        = 31 July 1765
| term_end          =15 September 1766
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1765|07|31|1766|09|15}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =21
| image             = Augustus Keppel BHC2821.jpg
| military_rank     =Rear-Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Augustus Keppel]]
| officeholder_sort = Keppel, Augustus
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1725
| died_year         = 1786
| term_start        = 15 September 1766
| term_end          =11 December 1766
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1766|09|15|1766|12|11}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =22
| image             = Captain Sir Peircy Brett.jpg
| military_rank     =Rear-Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Peircy Brett]]
| officeholder_sort = Brett, Peircy
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1709
| died_year         = 1781
| term_start        = 11 December 1766
| term_end          =28 February 1770
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1766|12|11|1770|02|28}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =23
| image             = FrancisHolburne.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Francis Holburne]]
| officeholder_sort = Holburne, Francis
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1704
| died_year         = 1771
| term_start        = 28 February 1770
| term_end          =2 February 1771
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1770|02|28|1771|02|02}}
| ref               = <ref name=rodger51-52/>
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=7|'''First Naval Lords'''
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 24
| image             = Augustus Earl of Bristol.jpg
| military_rank     = Captain
| officeholder      = [[Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol|Augustus Hervey]]
| officeholder_sort = Hervey, Augustus
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1724
| died_year         = 1779
| term_start        = 2 February 1771
| term_end          = 12 April 1775
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1771|02|02|1775|04|12}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 25
| image             = HughPalliser.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Hugh Palliser]]
| officeholder_sort = Palliser, Hugh
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1723
| died_year         = 1796
| term_start        = 12 April 1775
| term_end          = 23 September 1779
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1775|04|12|1779|09|23}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 26
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Robert Man]]
| officeholder_sort = Palliser, Hugh
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1721
| died_year         = 1783
| term_start        = 23 September 1779
| term_end          = 22 September 1780
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1779|09|23|1780|09|22}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 27
| image             = Vice-Admiral George Darby.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      = [[George Darby]]
| officeholder_sort = Darby, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1720}}
| died_year         = 1790
| term_start        = 22 September 1780
| term_end          = 1 April 1782
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1780|09|22|1782|04|01}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 28
| image             = Robert Harland Painting.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Sir Robert Harland, 1st Baronet|Robert Harland]]
| officeholder_sort = Harland, Robert
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1715}}
| died_year         = 1784
| term_start        = 1 April 1782
| term_end          = 30 January 1783
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1782|04|01|1783|01|30}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =29
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Hugh Pigot (Royal Navy officer, born 1722)|Hugh Pigot]]
| officeholder_sort = Pigot, Hugh
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1722
| died_year         = 1792
| term_start        = 30 January 1783
| term_end          = 31 December 1783
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1783|01|30|1783|12|31}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =30
| image             = Leveson-Gower, John (1740-1792).jpg
| military_rank     = Rear-Admiral
| officeholder      = [[John Leveson-Gower (Royal Navy officer)|John Leveson-Gower]]
| officeholder_sort = Leveson-Gower, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1740
| died_year         = 1792
| term_start        = 31 December 1783
| term_end          = 12 August 1789
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1783|12|31|1789|08|12}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =31
| image             = Northcote, Samuel Hood.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      =[[Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood|Samuel Hood, 1st Baron Hood]]
| officeholder_sort = Hood, Samuel
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1724
| died_year         = 1816
| term_start        = 12 August 1789
| term_end          = 7 March 1795
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1789|08|12|1795|03|07}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =32
| image             = Admiral Charles Middleton, later Lord Barham (1726-1813), by Isaac Pocock.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      =Sir [[Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham|Charles Middleton]]
| officeholder_sort = Middleton, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1726
| died_year         = 1813
| term_start        = 7 March 1795
| term_end          = 20 November 1795
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1795|03|07|1795|11|20}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =33
| image             = James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier by Joseph Slater.jpg 
| military_rank     = Vice-Admiral
| officeholder      =[[James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier|James Gambier]]
| officeholder_sort = Gambier, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1756
| died_year         = 1833
| term_start        = 20 November 1795
| term_end          = 19 February 1801
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1795|11|20|1801|02|19}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =34
| image             = Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet.jpg
| military_rank     = Rear-Admiral
| officeholder      =Sir [[Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet|Thomas Troubridge]]
| officeholder_sort = Troubridge, Thomas
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =c. 1758
| died_year         = 1807
| term_start        = 19 February 1801
| term_end          = 15 May 1804
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1801|02|19|1804|05|15}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(33)
| image             = James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier by Joseph Slater.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder      =[[James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier|James Gambier]]
| officeholder_sort = Gambier James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1756
| died_year         = 1833
| term_start        = 15 May 1804
| term_end          = 10 February 1806
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1804|05|15|1806|02|10}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =35
| image             = Admiral John Markham, by Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830).jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder      =[[John Markham (Royal Navy officer)|John Markham]]
| officeholder_sort = Markham, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1761
| died_year         = 1827
| term_start        = 10 February 1806
| term_end          = 6 April 1807
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1806|02|10|1807|04|06}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(33)
| image             = James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier by Joseph Slater.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      =[[James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier|James Gambier]]
| officeholder_sort = Gambier, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1756
| died_year         = 1833
| term_start        = 6 April 1807
| term_end          = 9 May 1808
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1807|04|06|1808|05|09}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =36
| image             = Sir Richard Bickerton.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder      =Sir [[Sir Richard Bickerton, 2nd Baronet|Richard Bickerton]]
| officeholder_sort = Bickerton, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1759
| died_year         = 1832
| term_start        = 9 May 1808
| term_end          = 25 March 1812
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1808|05|09|1812|03|25}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =37
| image             = William Domett (1754 - 1828).jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder      =[[William Domett]]
| officeholder_sort = Domett, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1752
| died_year         = 1828
| term_start        = 25 March 1812
| term_end          = 23 October 1813
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1812|03|25|1813|10|23}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =38
| image             = Joseph Sydney Yorke.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder      =Sir [[Joseph Sydney Yorke|Joseph Yorke]]
| officeholder_sort = Yorke, Joseph
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1768
| died_year         = 1831
| term_start        = 23 October 1813
| term_end          = 24 May 1816
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1813|10|23|1816|05|24}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =39
| image             = Sir Graham Moore by Sir Thomas Lawrence.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Graham Moore (Royal Navy officer)|Graham Moore]]
| officeholder_sort = Moore, Graham
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1764
| died_year         = 1843
| term_start        = 24 May 1816
| term_end          = 13 March 1820
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1816|05|24|1820|03|13}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =40
| image             = Captain William Johnstone Hope.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[William Johnstone Hope]]
| officeholder_sort = Johnstone Hope, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1766
| died_year         = 1831
| term_start        = 13 March 1820
| term_end          = 2 May 1827
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1820|03|13|1827|05|02}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Rodger|1979| p= 69}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =41
| image             = Sir George Cockburn.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet|George Cockburn]]
| officeholder_sort = Cockburn, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1772
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 19 September 1828
| term_end          = 25 November 1830
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1828|09|19|1830|11|25}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =42
| image             = Thomas Hardy - Project Gutenberg eText 16914.jpg 
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet|Thomas Hardy]]
| officeholder_sort = Hardy, Thomas
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1769
| died_year         = 1839
| term_start        = 25 November 1830
| term_end          = 1 August 1834
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1830|11|25|1834|08|01}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =43
| image             = Gdundas.jpg 
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[George Dundas (Royal Navy officer)|George Dundas]]
| officeholder_sort =Dundas, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1778
| died_year         = 1834
| term_start        = 1 August 1834
| term_end          = 7 October 1834
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1834|08|01|1834|10|07}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =44
| image             = Admiral Sir Charles Adam.jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Charles Adam]]
| officeholder_sort =Adam, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1780
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 1 November 1834
| term_end          = 23 December 1834
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1834|11|01|1834|12|23}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(41)
| image             = Sir George Cockburn.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet|George Cockburn]]
| officeholder_sort =Cockburn, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1772
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 23 December 1834
| term_end          = 25 April 1835
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1834|12|23|1835|04|25}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(44)
| image             = Admiral Sir Charles Adam.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Charles Adam]]
| officeholder_sort =Adam, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1780
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 25 April 1835
| term_end          = 8 September 1841
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1835|04|25|1841|11|08}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(41)
| image             = Sir George Cockburn.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet|George Cockburn]]
| officeholder_sort =Cockburn, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1772
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 8 September 1841
| term_end          = 13 July 1846
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1841|09|08|1846|07|13}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =45
| image             = Sir William Parker.jpg 
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Sir William Parker, 1st Baronet, of Shenstone|William Parker]]
| officeholder_sort =Parker, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1781
| died_year         = 1866
| term_start        = 13 July 1846
| term_end          = 24 July 1846
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1846|07|13|1846|07|24}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(44)
| image             = Admiral Sir Charles Adam.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[Charles Adam]]
| officeholder_sort =Adam, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1780
| died_year         = 1853
| term_start        = 24 July 1846
| term_end          = 20 July 1847
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1846|07|24|1847|07|20}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =46
| image             = Admiral Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas.JPG
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder     =Sir [[James Whitley Deans Dundas|James Dundas]]
| officeholder_sort =Dundas, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1785
| died_year         = 1862
| term_start        = 20 July 1847
| term_end          = 13 February 1852
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1847|07|20|1852|02|13}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =47
| image             = Mberkeley.jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder     =[[Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge|Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley]]
| officeholder_sort = Berkeley, Maurice
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1788
| died_year         = 1867
| term_start        = 13 February 1852
| term_end          = 2 March 1852
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1852|02|13|1852|03|02}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =48
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = [[Hyde Parker (Royal Navy officer, born 1784)|Hyde Parker]]
| officeholder_sort = Parker, Hyde
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1784
| died_year         = 1854
| term_start        = 2 March 1852
| term_end          = 26 May 1854
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1852|03|02|1854|05|26}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(47)
| image             = Mberkeley.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = [[Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge|Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley]]
| officeholder_sort = Berkeley, Maurice
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1788
| died_year         = 1867
| term_start        = 26 May 1854
| term_end          = 24 November 1857
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1855|05|26|1857|11|24}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =48
| image             = Rdundas.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Richard Saunders Dundas]]
| officeholder_sort = Dundas, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1802
| died_year         = 1861
| term_start        = 24 November 1857
| term_end          = 8 March 1858
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1857|11|24|1858|03|08}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =49
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Sir William Martin, 4th Baronet|William Martin]]
| officeholder_sort = Martin, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1801
| died_year         = 1895
| term_start        = 8 March 1858
| term_end          = 28 June 1859
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1858|03|08|1859|06|28}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(48)
| image             = Rdundas.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = [[Richard Saunders Dundas]]
| officeholder_sort = Dundas, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1802
| died_year         = 1861
| term_start        = 28 June 1859
| term_end          = 3 June 1861
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1859|06|28|1861|06|03}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =50
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Frederick Grey]]
| officeholder_sort = Grey, Frederick
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1805
| died_year         = 1878
| term_start        = 15 June 1861
| term_end          = 13 July 1866
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1861|06|15|1866|07|13}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =51
| image             = Admiral Alexander Milne (1808-1896), by Walter William Ouless.jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet|Alexander Milne]]
| officeholder_sort = Milne, Alexander
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1806
| died_year         = 1896
| term_start        = 13 July 1866
| term_end          = 18 December 1868
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1866|07|13|1868|12|18}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =52
| image             = Sdacres.jpg 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Sydney Dacres]]
| officeholder_sort = Dacres, Sydney
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1804
| died_year         = 1884
| term_start        = 18 December 1868
| term_end          = 27 November 1872
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1868|12|18|1872|11|27}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Sainty|1975|pp=18–31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(51)
| image             = Admiral Alexander Milne (1808-1896), by Walter William Ouless.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet|Alexander Milne]]
| officeholder_sort = Milne, Alexander
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1806
| died_year         = 1896
| term_start        = 27 November 1872
| term_end          = 7 September 1876
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1872|11|27|1876|09|07}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis>{{cite web|url=http://www.pdavis.nl/Admiralty.htm|title=The Commissioners ("Lords") of the Admiralty 1828 – 1895|publisher=W Loney RN|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =53
| image             = Hastings Yelverton Vanity Fair 23 June 1877.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Hastings Yelverton]]
| officeholder_sort = Yelverton, Hastings
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1808
| died_year         = 1878
| term_start        = 7 September 1876
| term_end          = 5 November 1877
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1876|09|07|1877|11|05}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =54
| image             = Gwellesley.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[George Wellesley]]
| officeholder_sort = Wellesley, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1814
| died_year         = 1901
| term_start        = 5 November 1877
| term_end          = 12 August 1879
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1877|11|05|1879|08|12}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =55
| image             = Cooperkey.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Astley Cooper Key]]
| officeholder_sort = Key, Astley
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1821
| died_year         = 1888
| term_start        = 12 August 1879
| term_end          = 1 July 1885
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1879|08|12|1885|07|01}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =56
| image             = Arthurhood.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Arthur Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon|Arthur Hood]]
| officeholder_sort = Hood, Arthur
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1824
| died_year         = 1901
| term_start        = 1 July 1885
| term_end          = 15 February 1886
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1885|07|01|1886|02|15}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =57
| image             = Lordjohnhay.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = [[Lord John Hay (Royal Navy officer, born 1827)|Lord John Hay]]
| officeholder_sort = Hay, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1827
| died_year         = 1916
| term_start        = 15 February 1886
| term_end          = 9 August 1886
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1886|02|15|1886|08|09}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =(56)
| image             = Arthurhood.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Arthur Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon|Arthur Hood]]
| officeholder_sort = Hood, Arthur
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1824
| died_year         = 1901
| term_start        = 9 August 1886
| term_end          = 24 October 1889
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1886|08|09|1889|10|24}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =58
| image             = Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton (by Fradelle and Young).jpg 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Richard Vesey Hamilton|Richard Hamilton]]
| officeholder_sort = Hamilton, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1829
| died_year         = 1912
| term_start        = 24 October 1889
| term_end          = 28 September 1891
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1889|10|24|1891|09|28}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =59
| image             = Hileyhoskins.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder     = Sir [[Anthony Hoskins]]
| officeholder_sort = Hoskins, Anthony
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1828
| died_year         = 1901
| term_start        = 28 September 1891
| term_end          = 1 November 1893
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1891|09|28|1893|11|01}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =60
| image             = Admiral Frederick Richards, by Arthur Stockdale Cope.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder     = Sir [[Frederick Richards]]
| officeholder_sort = Richards, Frederick
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1833
| died_year         = 1912
| term_start        = 1 November 1893
| term_end          = 19 August 1899
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1893|11|01|1899|08|19}}
| ref               = <ref name=PDavis/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             =61
| image             = LordWalterKerr.jpg 
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder     = [[Lord Walter Kerr]]
| officeholder_sort = Kerr, Walter
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         =1839
| died_year         = 1927
| term_start        = 19 August 1899
| term_end          = 21 October 1904
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1899|08|19|1904|10|21}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002| p= 144}}
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=7|'''First Sea Lords'''
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 62
| image             = John_Arbuthnot_Fisher,_1st_Baron_Fisher_by_Sir_Hubert_von_Herkomer.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|John Fisher]]
| officeholder_sort = Fisher, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1841
| died_year         = 1920
| term_start        = 21 October 1904
| term_end          = 25 January 1910
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1904|10|21|1910|01|25}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Mackay|1973|p=315}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 63
| image             = Awilson.gif
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Sir Arthur Wilson, 3rd Baronet|Arthur Wilson]]
| officeholder_sort = Wilson, Arthur
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1842
| died_year         = 1921
| term_start        = 25 January 1910
| term_end          = 5 December 1911
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1910|01|25|1911|12|05}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=268}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 64
| image             = Fbridgeman.JPG
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Francis Bridgeman (Royal Navy officer)|Francis Bridgeman]]
| officeholder_sort = Bridgeman, Francis 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1848
| died_year         = 1929
| term_start        = 5 December 1911
| term_end          = 9 December 1912
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1911|12|05|1912|12|09}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite ODNB|id=32062|title= Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 65
| image             = Ludwig Alexander von Battenberg.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Prince Louis of Battenberg]]
| officeholder_sort = Mountbatten, Louis
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1854
| died_year         = 1921
| term_start        = 9 December 1912
| term_end          = 30 October 1914
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1912|12|09|1914|10|30}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Kerr|1934|p=238}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = (62)
| image             = John_Arbuthnot_Fisher,_1st_Baron_Fisher_by_Sir_Hubert_von_Herkomer.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher]]
| officeholder_sort = Fisher, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1841
| died_year         = 1920
| term_start        = 30 October 1914
| term_end          = 15 May 1915
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1914|10|30|1915|05|15}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=83}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 66
| image             = Gws jackson 01.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Henry Jackson (Royal Navy officer)|Henry Jackson]]
| officeholder_sort = Jackson, Henry
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1855
| died_year         = 1929
| term_start        = 15 May 1915
| term_end          = 30 November 1916
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1915|05|15|1916|11|30}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=127}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 67
| image             = John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|John Jellicoe]]
| officeholder_sort = Jellicoe, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1859
| died_year         = 1935
| term_start        = 30 November 1916
| term_end          = 10 January 1918
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1916|11|30|1918|01|10}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=130}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 68
| image             = Rosslyn Erskine Wemyss, Baron Wester Wemyss by Sir William Orpen.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss|Rosslyn Wemyss]]
| officeholder_sort = Wemyss, Rosslyn
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1864
| died_year         = 1933
| term_start        = 10 January 1918
| term_end          = 1 November 1919
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1918|01|10|1919|11|01}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=252}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 69
| image             = Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty]]
| officeholder_sort = Beatty, David 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1871
| died_year         = 1936
| term_start        = 1 November 1919
| term_end          = 30 July 1927
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1919|11|01|1927|07|30}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=26}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 70
| image             = Charles Madden.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Sir Charles Madden, 1st Baronet|Charles Madden]]
| officeholder_sort = Madden, Charles 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1862
| died_year         = 1935
| term_start        = 30 July 1927
| term_end          = 30 July 1930
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1927|07|30|1930|07|30}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=164}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 71
| image             = Frederick Field (Royal Navy officer).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Frederick Field (Royal Navy officer)|Frederick Field]]
| officeholder_sort = Field, Frederick 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1871
| died_year         = 1945
| term_start        = 30 July 1930
| term_end          = 21 January 1933
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1930|07|30|1933|01|21}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=75}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 72
| image             = Echatfield.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Ernle Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield]]
| officeholder_sort = Chatfield, Ernle 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1873
| died_year         = 1967
| term_start        = 21 January 1933
| term_end          = 7 September 1938
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1933|01|21|1938|09|07}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=42}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 73
| image             = Rbackhouse.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Roger Backhouse]]
| officeholder_sort = Backhouse, Roger
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1878
| died_year         = 1939
| term_start        = 7 September 1938
| term_end          = 12 June 1939
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1938|09|07|1939|06|12}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=21}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 74
| image             = SirDudleyPound.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Dudley Pound]]
| officeholder_sort = Pound, Dudley
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1877
| died_year         = 1943
| term_start        = 12 June 1939
| term_end          = 15 October 1943
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1939|06|12|1943|10|15}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=217}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 75
| image             = Andrew Cunningham cropped.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope]]
| officeholder_sort = Cunningham, Andrew
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1883
| died_year         = 1963
| term_start        = 15 October 1943
| term_end          = 24 May 1946
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1943|10|15|1946|05|24}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=60}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 76
| image             = Admiral Sir John Cunningham (1885–1962), GCB.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Cunningham (Royal Navy officer)|John Cunningham]]
| officeholder_sort = Cunningham, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1885
| died_year         = 1962
| term_start        = 24 May 1946
| term_end          = 29 September 1948
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1946|05|24|1948|09|29}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=63}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 77
| image             = BruceFraser.JPG
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape]]
| officeholder_sort = Fraser, Bruce
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1888
| died_year         = 1981
| term_start        = 29 September 1948
| term_end          = 20 December 1951
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1948|09|29|1951|12|20}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=90}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 78
| image             = Admiral Jerauld Wright and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Rhoderick McGrigor]]
| officeholder_sort = McGrigor, Rhoderick
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1893
| died_year         = 1959
| term_start        = 20 December 1951
| term_end          = 18 April 1955
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1951|12|20|1955|04|18}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=162}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 79
| image             = Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1943. TR1230 (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma]]
| officeholder_sort = Mountbatten, Louis
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS|Later served as [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]].}}
| born_year         = 1900
| died_year         = 1979
| term_start        = 18 April 1955
| term_end          = 19 October 1959
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1955|04|18|1959|10|19}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=189}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 80
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Charles Lambe]]
| officeholder_sort = Lambe, Charles 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1900
| died_year         = 1960
| term_start        = 19 October 1959
| term_end          = 23 May 1960
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1959|10|19|1960|05|23}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=150}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 81
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Caspar John]]
| officeholder_sort = John, Caspar 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1903
| died_year         = 1984
| term_start        = 23 May 1960
| term_end          = 7 August 1963
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1960|05|23|1963|08|07}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=139}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 82
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[David Luce]]
| officeholder_sort = Luce, David
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1906
| died_year         = 1971
| term_start        = 7 August 1963
| term_end          = 15 March 1966
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1963|08|07|1966|03|15}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersL2.html|title=Sir David Luce|publisher=Unit Histories|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 83
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Varyl Begg]]
| officeholder_sort = Begg, Varyl
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1908
| died_year         = 1995
| term_start        = 15 March 1966
| term_end          = 12 August 1968
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1966|03|15|1968|08|12}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=29}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 84
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Michael Le Fanu]]
| officeholder_sort = Fanu, Michael
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1913
| died_year         = 1970
| term_start        = 12 August 1968
| term_end          = 3 July 1970
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1968|08|12|1970|07|03}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=155}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 85
| image             = Peter Hill-Norton (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Peter Hill-Norton]]
| officeholder_sort = Hill, Peter
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS}}
| born_year         = 1915
| died_year         = 2004
| term_start        = 3 July 1970
| term_end          = 9 April 1971
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1970|07|03|1971|04|09}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=115}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 86
| image             = Michael_Pollock.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Michael Pollock (Royal Navy officer)|Michael Pollock]]
| officeholder_sort = Pollock, Michael
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1916
| died_year         = 2006
| term_start        = 9 April 1971
| term_end          = 1 March 1974
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1971|04|09|1974|03|01}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=214}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 87
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Edward Ashmore]]
| officeholder_sort = Ashmore, Edward
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1919
| died_year         = 2016
| term_start        = 1 March 1974
| term_end          = 9 February 1977
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1974|03|01|1977|02|09}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=16}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 88
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral of the Fleet
| officeholder      = Sir [[Terence Lewin]]
| officeholder_sort = Lewin, Terence
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS}}
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 1999
| term_start        = 1 March 1977
| term_end          = 6 July 1979
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1977|03|01|1979|07|06}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=158}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 89
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Henry Leach]]
| officeholder_sort = Leach, Henry
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1923
| died_year         = 2011
| term_start        = 6 July 1979
| term_end          = 1 December 1982
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1979|07|06|1982|12|01}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=152}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 90
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse|John Fieldhouse]]
| officeholder_sort = Fieldhouse, John
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS}}
| born_year         = 1928
| died_year         = 1992
| term_start        = 1 December 1982
| term_end          = 2 August 1985
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1982|12|01|1985|08|02}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=78}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 91
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[William Staveley (Royal Navy officer)|William Staveley]]
| officeholder_sort = Staveley, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1928
| died_year         = 1997
| term_start        = 2 August 1985
| term_end          = 25 May 1989
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1985|08|02|1989|05|25}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=235}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 92
| image             = 
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Julian Oswald]]
| officeholder_sort = Oswald, Julian 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1933
| died_year         = 2011
| term_start        = 25 May 1989
| term_end          = 2 March 1993
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1989|05|25|1993|03|2}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=204}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 93
| image             = Admiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)|Benjamin Bathurst]]
| officeholder_sort = Bathurst, Benjamin
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1936
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 2 March 1993
| term_end          = 10 July 1995
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1993|03|2|1995|07|10}}
| ref               = {{sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=23}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 94
| image             = Naval Photo Jock Slater.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Jock Slater]]
| officeholder_sort = Slater, Jock
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1938
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 10 July 1995
| term_end          = 8 October 1998
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1995|07|10|1998|10|8}}
| ref               = <ref name=WW>''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] 2010'', [[A & C Black]], 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-408-11414-8}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 95
| image             = Admiralmboyce.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce|Michael Boyce]]
| officeholder_sort = Boyce, Michael
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS}}
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 2022
| term_start        = 8 October 1998
| term_end          = 16 January 2001
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1998|10|8|2001|01|16}}
| ref               = <ref name=WW/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 96
| image             = Stella Maris Mass 2013 Portsmouth Cathedral (9971395596) (Nigel Essenhigh cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Nigel Essenhigh]]
| officeholder_sort = Essenhigh, Nigel
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1944
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 16 January 2001
| term_end          = 17 September 2002
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2001|01|16|2002|09|17}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exeter.ac.uk/strategy/about/advisoryboard/nigelessenhigh/|title=Sir Nigel Essenhigh|publisher=University of Exeter|access-date=25 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203130302/http://www.exeter.ac.uk/strategy/about/advisoryboard/nigelessenhigh/|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 97
| image             = 1SL Alan West (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead|Alan West]]
| officeholder_sort = West, Alan
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1948
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 17 September 2002
| term_end          = 6 February 2006
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2002|09|17|2006|02|06}}
| ref               = <ref name=WW/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 98
| image             = The Queen and Adm Jonathon Band in 2006 (Band cropped).JPG
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Jonathon Band]]
| officeholder_sort = Band, Jonathon
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1950
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 6 February 2006 
| term_end          = 21 July 2009
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2006|02|06|2009|07|21}}
| ref               = <ref name=WW/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 99
| image             = General Walter L. Sharp walks with Sea Lord Admiral, Sir Mark Stanhope (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Mark Stanhope]]
| officeholder_sort = Stanhope, Mark
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1952
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 21 July 2009
| term_end          = 9 April 2013
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2009|07|21|2013|04|09}}
| ref               = <ref name=WW/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 100
| image             = First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC MOD 45155508.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[George Zambellas]]
| officeholder_sort = Zambellas, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1958
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 9 April 2013
| term_end          = 8 April 2016
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2013|04|09|2016|04|08}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/admiral-zambellas-new-first-sea-lord |title=Admiral Zambellas new First Sea Lord|publisher= Inside Government |date=9 April 2013|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 101
| image             = Admiral Sir Philip Jones (USNavy Royal Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)|Philip Jones]]
| officeholder_sort = Jones, Philip
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1960
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 8 April 2016
| term_end          = 19 June 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2016|04|08|2019|06|19}}
| ref               = <ref name=Jones>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/april/08/160408-new-first-sea-lord |title=Admiral Sir Philip Jones takes over as First Sea Lord|publisher= [[Royal Navy]] |date=8 April 2016|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 102
| image             = US Navy photo 191120-N-BB269-1046 U.S., U.K., Japan Navies Reaffirm Commitment to Increased Cooperation (Tony Radakin cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Tony Radakin]]
| officeholder_sort = Radakin, Tony 
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=CDS}}
| born_year         = 1965
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 19 June 2019
| term_end          = 8 November 2021
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2019|06|19|2021|11|08}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/03/generation-innovators-has-appointed-run-military-shake-up-top/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/03/generation-innovators-has-appointed-run-military-shake-up-top/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=A 'generation of innovators' has been appointed to run the military in a shake-up of the top ranks of the Army, Navy and RAF |publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=3 December 2018 |language=en |date=3 December 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 103
| image             = Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Ben Key]]
| officeholder_sort = Key, Ben 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1965
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 8 November 2021
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2021|11|08|2025|05|06}}
| ref               = <ref name="key">{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE has been appointed to First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vice-admiral-sir-ben-key-kcb-cbe-has-been-appointed-to-first-sea-lord-and-chief-of-the-naval-staff |website=gov.uk |access-date=8 November 2021 |language=en |date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/watch-vice-admiral-sir-ben-key-whos-new-first-sea-lord|title=Admiral Sir Ben Key – who's the new First Sea Lord? |publisher=Forces.net|access-date=8 November 2021 |language=en |date=8 November 2021}}</ref>
|term_end=6 May 2025}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = -
| image             = Second Sea Lords Connell and Hine (Martin Connell cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| officeholder      = Sir [[Martin Connell (Royal Navy officer)|Martin Connell]]
| officeholder_sort = Connel, Martin 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1968 
| died_year         = 
| acting            = y
| term_start        = 7 May 2025
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2025|05|07|2025|05|27}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Connel as Acting First sea lord |url=https://www.navylookout.com/professional-head-of-the-royal-navy-admiral-ben-key-has-resigned-citing-personal-reasons/ |website=Naval Lookout |access-date=7 May 2025}}</ref>
| term_end=27 May 2025}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 104
| image             = Commandant General Royal Marines 2022 (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| officeholder      = Sir [[Gwyn Jenkins]]
| officeholder_sort = Jenkins, Gwyn
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| acting            = n
| term_start        = 27 May 2025
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2025|05|27}}<ref>{{cite web |title=General Sir Gwyn Jenkins takes over |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/may/27/20250527-1sl-supersession |website=Royal Navy |publisher=Royal Navy}}</ref>
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|title=General Sir Gwyn Jenkins KCB OBE RM has been appointed as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, and Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/general-sir-gwyn-jenkins-kcb-obe-rm-has-been-appointed-as-first-sea-lord-and-chief-of-the-naval-staff-and-aide-de-camp-to-his-majesty|access-date=15 May 2025|website=gov.uk}}</ref>
| term_end=Incumbent}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

==In fiction==
In [[John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir|John Buchan's]] novel ''[[The Thirty-Nine Steps]]'' (1915), the First Sea Lord is named as Lord Alloa, an impostor whom [[Richard Hannay]] recognizes at a meeting as a spy and recent pursuer of his.  Hannay describes Lord Alloa as recognizable from news pictures for his "beard cut like a spade, the firm fighting mouth, the blunt square nose, and the keen blue eyes...the man, they say, that made the New British Navy".{{sfn|Buchan|1999|p=|loc=Ch. 8}} The real First Sea Lord at the time the story is set (early summer 1914) was [[Prince Louis of Battenberg]], coincidentally also bearded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/battenberg.htm|title=Prince Louis of Battenberg|publisher=First World War.com|access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)]]
* [[Second Sea Lord]]
* [[Third Sea Lord]]
* [[Fourth Sea Lord]]
* [[Fifth Sea Lord]]
*[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]] – the [[Royal Air Force]] equivalent
*[[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]] – the [[British Army]] equivalent

==Notes==
{{refbegin}}

{{refend}}
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book|last=Buchan|first=John|author-link=John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir|title=The Thirty-nine Steps|url=https://archive.org/details/thirtyninesteps00buch|url-access=registration|year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-283931-2|orig-year=1915}}
*{{cite book|last=Friedman|first= N.|title=The British Battleship 1906-1946|date=2015| publisher=Seaforth|isbn= 9781848322257| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Ts5CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA21}}
* {{cite book|last=Heathcote |first=Tony |title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995 |publisher=Pen & Sword Ltd |year=2002 |isbn=0-85052-835-6 }}
* {{cite book|last=Kerr|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Kerr (Royal Navy officer, born 1864)|title=Prince Louis of Battenberg: Admiral of the Fleet|publisher=Longmans, Green and Co|location=London|year=1934 }}
* {{cite book|last=Mackay|first= Ruddock F. |title=Fisher of Kilverstone|publisher= London: Oxford University Press|year=1973|isbn=978-0198224099 }}
* {{cite book|last=Rodger|first=N.A.M. |year=1979|title=The Admiralty. Offices of State|publisher= Lavenham: T. Dalton Ltd|isbn=0900963948 }}
*{{cite book|editor-last=Sainty|editor-first=J.C.|title=Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870, Office-Holders in Modern Britain|volume=4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870|date=1975|url=http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16652|access-date=4 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007025436/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16652|archive-date=7 October 2014|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book|last=Thomas|first= David A|title=A companion to the Royal Navy|publisher=Harrap|date= 1988|isbn=0-245-54572-7}}
{{refend}}

{{First Sea Lord}}
{{Admiralty Board|state=collapsed}}
{{Navy Board (Royal Navy)|state=collapsed}} 
{{Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)|state=collapsed}}
{{Naval Service (British)|state=collapsed}}
{{Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)|state=collapsed}}
{{Admiralty Department|state=collapsed}} 
{{Board of Admiralty|state=collapsed}}
{{British Military}}
{{Chief of the navy by country}}

[[Category:First Sea Lords and Chiefs of the Naval Staff|*]]
[[Category:Naval Staff of the Royal Navy|*]]
[[Category:Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Lords of the Admiralty|*]]
[[Category:Royal Navy appointments]]
[[Category:Navy chiefs of staff|United Kingdom]]