First Lord of the Admiralty

The First Lord of the Admiralty was responsible for the general direction and supervision of all business relating to the Royal Navy. He also dealt personally with all matters relating to promotions and removals from the service of naval and marine officers; honors and rewards [royal yachts and admiralty yacht]; appointment of Admirals and officers in command [including Engineers, Rear-Admirals, Surgeons-General and Deputy Surgeons-General, and staff appointments of the Royal Marines; Chaplain of the Fleet, appointment and entry of] naval chaplains and instructors; civil appointments and promotions (higher posts) [nomination to naval cadetships and to assistant clerkships, R.N.].

First Lords of the Admiralty, 1886–1929

• George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon 1886
• Lord George Francis Hamilton 1886–1892
• John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer 1892–1895
• George Joachim Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen 1895–1900
• William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne 1900–1905
• Frederick Archibald Vaughan Campbell, 3rd Earl Cawdor 1905
• Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth 1905–1908
• Reginald McKenna 1908–1911
• Winston Churchill 1911–1915
• Sir Arthur Balfour 1915–1916
• Sir Edward Carson 1916–1917
• Sir Eric Geddes 1917–1919