Lord Admirals and First Lords of the Admiralty

The title was first used in 1540, thus replacing the former style ‘Admiral of England’. From 1619, the Lord Admiral also took control of the Navy Board, which was responsible for the maintenance of ships in the Royal Navy in peacetime as well as war. In 1628, the office was placed in commission for the first time (and frequently thereafter) under the leadership of the First Lord of the Admiralty. After the Union with Scotland (1707), the title was changed to ‘Lord High Admiral of Great Britain’.