Commander-in-Chief of the Forces

The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), was the professional head of the English Army from 1660 to 1707 (the English Army, founded in 1660, was succeeded in 1707 by the new British Army, incorporating existing Scottish regiments) and of the British Army from 1707 until 1904 (the office was replaced in 1904 by the Chief of the General Staff.)

From the passing of the War Office Act 1870, as part of the Cardwell reforms, the C-in-C was made subordinate to the Secretary of State for War.

In most instances, Commanders-in-Chief of the Forces were not cabinet members. Instead, the British Army was represented variously in government by the Paymaster of the Forces (Paymaster General), Master-General of the Ordnance, Secretary at War, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Secretary of State for War, and from 1964, together with the other services, by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Officeholders

General-in-Chief Command (1660–1793)

Rank	Name	Image	In office	Reference
General	George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle		3 August 1660 – 3 January 1670	[1]
	Vacant		3 January 1670 – 30 March 1674
General	James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth		30 March 1674 – 1 December 1679	[2]
	Vacant		1 December 1679 – 3 June 1690
General	John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough		3 June 1690 – 30 April 1691	[3]
General	Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg		30 April 1691 – 1691	[4]
	Vacant		1691 – 24 April 1702
General	John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough		24 April 1702 – 1708	[3]
	Vacant		1708 – 1 January 1711
General	James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde		1 January 1711 – 1714	[5]
	Vacant		1714 – 1 January 1744
Field Marshal	John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair		1 January 1744 – 1744	[6]
Field Marshal	George Wade		1744 – 1745	[7]
	Vacant		1745 – 1745
General	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland		1745 – 24 October 1757	[8]
Field Marshal	John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier		24 October 1757 – 1759	[9]
	Vacant		1759 – 13 August 1766
General	John Manners, Marquess of Granby		13 August 1766 – 1769	[10]
	Vacant		1769 – 19 March 1778
Field Marshal	Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst		19 March 1778 – 29 March 1782	[11]
Field Marshal	Henry Seymour Conway		29 March 1782 – 21 January 1793	[12]

Commander-in-Chief (1793–1904)

Rank	Name	Image	In office	Reference
Field Marshal	Jeffery Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst		1793 – 1795	[13]
Field Marshal	Prince Frederick, Duke of York		1795 – 1809	[14]
General	Sir David Dundas		1809 – 1811	[15]
Field Marshal	Prince Frederick, Duke of York		29 May 1811 – 22 January 1827	[16]
Field Marshal	Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington		22 January 1827 – 22 January 1828	[17]
General	Rowland Hill, 1st Lord Hill		22 January 1828 – 15 August 1842	[18]
Field Marshal	Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington		15 August 1842 – 14 September 1852	[19]
Field Marshal	Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge		28 September 1852 – 5 July 1856	[20]
Field Marshal	Prince George, Duke of Cambridge		5 July 1856 – 1 November 1895	[21]
Field Marshal	Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley		1 November 1895 – 3 January 1901	[22]
Field Marshal	Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts		3 January 1901 – 12 February 1904	[23]

References

1. "George Monk". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
2. "James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
3. "John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
4. "Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
5. The London Gazette: no. 4948. p. 1. 3 January 1711. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
6. "John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
7. Heathcote, p. 286
8. "Prince William, Duke of Cumberland". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
9. Heathcote, p. 203
10. "John Manners, Marquess of Granby". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
11. Heathcote, p.25
12. Heathcote, p.94
13. "Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
14. Glover, (1973), p.128
15. "Sir David Dundas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
16. The London Gazette: no. 16487. p. 940. 21 May 1811. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
17. The London Gazette: no. 18327. p. 153. 23 January 1827. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
18. "Rowland Hill". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
19. The London Gazette: no. 20130. p. 2217. 16 August 1842. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
20. The London Gazette: no. 21362. p. 2573. 28 September 1852. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
21. Heathcote, p. 142
22. The London Gazette: no. 26676. p. 5923. 1 November 1895. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
23. The London Gazette: no. 27263. p. 83. 4 January 1901. Retrieved 21 January 2014.

Sources

• Glover, Richard (1963). Peninsular Preparation: The Reform of the British Army 1795–1809. Cambridge University Press.
• Heathcote, Tony (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736–1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5.

External links

• Regiments.org
• Everything