Politcians, and Senior Officials of the Admiralty and the Navy Board

During the time that James Cook served in the Royal Navy from 1755 to 1780, the following people served in senior positions. They are listed under the name and title they eventually assumed. They did not necessarily occupy office under this title. (N) after a name indicates the person was or had been a serving naval officer.

Many of these people had geographical features named after them by Cook. Those that did have live links to gazetteer pages where further information about the person and the features can be found.

A. Politicians

1. Prime Ministers (First Lord of the Treasury).

Dates Name Cook's whereabouts
1744-54 Henry Pelham. North Sea coal trade.
1754-56 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Coal trade. Joins Royal Navy.
1756-57 William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire. HMS Eagle, Soleby, Pembroke.
1757-62 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. HMS Pembroke, Northumberland. In Canada.
1762-63 John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. HMS Northumberland, Tweed. Newfoundland.
1763-65 George Grenville. Grenville.Newfoundland.
1765-66 Charles Watson Wentworth, 2nd Marquis of Rockingham. Grenville.Newfoundland.
1766-67 William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. Grenville.Newfoundland.
1767-70 Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. Grenville.Newfoundland. Endeavour.First voyage.
1770-82 Frederick North, 8th Lord North. Endeavour, Resolution.First, second & third voyages.

B. Royal Navy officials

1. First Lords of the Admiralty (from 1744 until 1782).

Dates Name Cook's whereabouts
1744-48 John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford. North Sea coal trade.
1748-51 John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. North Sea coal trade.
1751-56 George Anson, 1st Baron Anson. (N). Coal trade. Joins Royal Navy.
1756-57 Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple. HMS Eagle, Solebay.
1757 Daniel Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham HMS Pembroke.
1757-62 George Anson, 1st Baron Anson.(N). HMS Pembroke. Northumberland. In Canada.
1762 George Montagu Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax. HMS Northumberland. In Canada.
1762-63 George Grenville. HMS Northumberland, Tweed. Newfoundland.
1763 John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. HMS Tweed.Newfoundland.
1763-66 John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont. Grenville.Newfoundland.
1766 Sir Charles Saunders. (N). Grenville.Newfoundland.
1766-71 Edward Hawke, Baron Hawke. (N). Grenville.Newfoundland.Endeavour. First voyage.
1771-82 John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. Endeavour, Resolution.First, second and third voyages.

2. Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (from 1750 until 1782).

Dates Name Dates Name
1744-51 George Anson, 1st Baron Anson. (N). 1746-49; 1754 William Wildman Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington.
1746-56 William Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon. 1747-55 Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip.
1748-56 Thomas Villiers, Lord Hyde. 1749-51 Granville Leveson Gower, Viscount Trentham.
1751-57 Sir William Rowley. (N). 1751-61 Edward Boscawen. (N).
1754-55 Charles Townshend. 1754-56 John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman.
1754-56 Richard Edgcumbe. 1756-57 Temple West. (N).
1756 John Pitt. 1756-65 Sir George Hay.
1756-63 Thomas Hunter. 1756-61 Sir Gilbert Elliot.
1756-63 John Forbes. (N). 1757 & 1763-65 John Proby, 1st Lord Carysfort.
1757 Savage Mostyn. (N). 1757 Edwin Sandys.
1757-65 Hans Stanley. 1761-63 George Bussy Villiers.
1761-63 Thomas Pelham. 1763 James Harris.
1763-65 Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe. (N). 1763-65 Thomas Pitt
1763-65 Henry Digby, 7th Lord Digby. 1765-66 Sir Charles Saunders. (N).
1765-66 Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel. (N). 1765-70 Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning.
1765-80 John Buller. 1765-66 Sir William Meredith.
1765-66 John Yorke. 1766-77 Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston.
1766-80 Sir George Yonge. 1766-70 Sir Piercy Brett. (N).
1766-68 Charles Jenkinson. 1768-79 Lord Charles Spencer.
1770-71 Francis Holburne. (N). 1770-82 Wilmot Vaughan, 4th Viscount Lisburne.
1770-72 Charles James Fox. 1771-75 Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol. (N).
1772-74 Thomas Bradshaw. 1774-82 Henry Penton.
1775-79 Sir Hugh Palliser. (N). 1777-82 Constantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave. (N).
1779-80 Robert Man 1779-82 Bamber Gascoyne.
1780-82 Charles Francis Greville. 1780-82 George Darby. (N).

3. Secretaries to the Admiralty

a. Secretary and First Secretary
Dates Title Name
1751-59 Secretary John Clevland
1759-63 First Secretary John Clevland
1763-83 Secretary Sir Philip Stephens.
1783-95 First Secretary Sir Philip Stephens.

b. Deputy and Second Secretary
Dates Title Name
1744-46 Deputy Secretary Robert Osborn.
1756-59 Deputy Secretary John Milnes.
1759-63 Second Secretary Sir Philip Stephens.
1764-66 Deputy Secretary Charles Fearne.
1766-82 Deputy Secretary Sir George Jackson.

4. Controllers of the Navy (sometimes written Comptrollers)

Dates Name
1755-56 Sir Charles Saunders. (N).
1756 Digby Dent. (N).
1756-70 George Cockburn. (N).
1770-75 Sir Hugh Palliser. (N).
1775-78 Maurice Suckling. (N).

5. Assistant Clerk of the Acts and Secretary to the Navy Board

Dates Name
1743-58 Charles Burley.
1758-66 Sir George Jackson.
1766-80 Daniel Stow.

6. Surveyors of the Navy

Dates Name
1749-55 J Allin.
1755-71 Thomas Slade.
1755-65 William Bately.
1765-84 Sir John Williams

7. Treasurers of the Navy

Dates Name
1756-62 George Grenville.
1762-65 William Wildman, Viscount Barrington.
1765-70 Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe.
1770-77 Sir Gilbert Elliott.
1777-82 Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip.
1782 Isaac Barré.
1782-83 Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville.
1783 Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning.

C. Other officials

Governors of Greenwich Hospital

Dates Name
1765-70 George Brydges Rodney, Baron Rodney. (N).
1771 Francis Holburne. (N).
1771-80 Sir Charles Hardy. (N).
1780- Sir Hugh Palliser. (N).

 

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