The Chapel Royal: Clerks of the Closet

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

Citation:

'The Chapel Royal: Clerks of the Closet', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006), pp. 247-250. British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp247-250 [accessed 24 June 2024].

Clerk of the Closet 1660–1808; c. 1813–1837

The clerk of the closet was appointed by royal warrant and served under the authority of the lord chamberlain. (fn. 1) His duty was `to attend at the King's Right Hand during Divine Service, to resolve such Doubts as may arise in spiritual Matters; but chiefly to wait on his Majesty in his private Oratory or Closet, and to say Grace when his Majesty eats'. (fn. 2) During the reign of Anne the office was held jointly by three individuals. It was vacant from the death of Richard Hurd, 28 May 1808, until possibly as late as 1813. The salary was variously expressed as 20 nobles, £6 13s 4d and £6 18s. The clerk of the closet was also allowed diet and fees of honour. (fn. 3)



1660	9 June	Earle, J.
1664	15 June	Dolben, J.
1668	7 Feb.	Blandford, W.
1669	5 Apr.	Crew, Hon. N.
1685	28 Dec.	Sprat, T.
1687	5 Nov.	Petre, E.
1689	18 Apr.	Tillotson, J.
1691	28 Nov.	Burnet, T.
1695	25 Nov.	Montagu, Hon. J.
1702	26 Nov.	Graham, W. (joint)
1702	26 Nov.	Younger, J. (joint)
1702	26 Nov.	Pratt, S. (joint)
1714	31 Dec.	Trimnell, C.
1723	7 Nov.	Willis, R.
1735	12 Mar.	Egerton, Hon. H.
1746	17 Apr.	Butler, J.
1752	22 Nov.	Gilbert, J.
1757	27 June	Thomas, J.
1781	10 May	Hurd, R.
By 1813		Jackson, W.
1815	20 Dec.	Pelham, Hon. G.
1827	8 Feb.	Carr, R. J.

Clerk of the Closet to the Queen [?1689]–1694

The clerk of the closet to the Queen was paid £6 13s 4d per annum. (fn. 4)



By 1691	Stanley, W.

Deputy Clerks of the Closet 1667–9; 1684–1685; 1716–1837

The deputy clerks of the closet were appointed by the clerk of the closet and waited in his absence. They received no salary on the household establishment. (fn. 5) There were two such deputy clerks waiting in rotation by 1716; the number rose to three by 1723.



1667		Crew, N.
By 1684		Mountague, J.
By 1716		Egerton, H.
By 1716		Torriano, -
By 1718		Talbot, -
By 1723		Burnet, G.
By 1723		Gilbert, J.
By 1726		Naylor, C.
By 1731		Reynolds, -
1734	27 Aug.	Clarke, A.
By 1741		Hay, [Hon. R.]
By 1745		Beauclerk, Lord J.
By 1745		Head, J.
By 1748		Townshend, E.
By 1750		Shipley, J.
By 1759		Keppel, Hon. F.
By 1761		Ogle, N.
By 1761		Poyntz, C.
By 1764		Buller, W.
By 1782		Arnold, W.
By 1788		Fisher, J.
By 1794		Majendie, H. W.
1800		Moss, C.
1803		Legge, Hon. E.
By 1806		Cookson, W.
By 1808		Hughes, T.
By 1817		Clarke, J. S.
By 1821		Carr, R. J.
By 1825		Sumner, C.
By 1827		Blomberg, F. W.
By 1835		Ford-Bowes, T. F.
By 1837		Merewether, J.

Resident Deputy Clerk of the Closet 1837



By 1837	Wood, J. R.

Supernumerary Deputy Clerk of the Closet 1833–1837



By 1833	Merewether, J.
By 1834	Ford-Bowes, T. F.
By 1835	Wynyard, M. J.

Sub-Clerks of the Closet 1694

There were two sub-clerks of the closet, one each for the King and Queen, listed in 1694. (fn. 6)



By 1694	Herne, - (Q)
By 1694	Wickart, - (K)

Closet Keeper [in the Chapel Royal] 1661–1837

The closet keeper was appointed by the clerk of the closet. (fn. 7) He was paid 2s p.d. in 1661. This rose to £5 plus £49 in and £54 5s for washing surpluses and in lieu of bills in 1689. Under Queen Anne, his remuneration fell to £41 10s in salary and £49 2s for washing. By 1716 he was receiving an additional £31 5s for providing table-linen for the chaplains. He was also allowed diet, riding wages and fees of honour. (fn. 8)



By 1661		Pamphlin, R.
1664	21 Mar.	Dunkley, T.
By 1691		Thornburgh, G.
1704	22 July	Lucas, C.
1715	18 Mar.	Reading, T.
1743	4 Mar.	Hart, J.
1780	24 Oct.	Hay, J.
1791	10 Feb.	Cockden, R

Deputy Closet Keeper 1691



By 1691	Douglas, A.