Master-General of the Ordnance
Encyclopedia
The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) was a very senior British
military position before 1855, when the Board of Ordnance
was abolished.
, the Master-General of the Ordnance was responsible for all British artillery
, engineer
s, fortifications, military supplies, transport, field hospitals and much else, and was not subordinate to the commander-in chief
of the British military. In 1764 it established the British standard ordnance weights and measurements
for the artillery, one of the earliest standards in the world.
The position was frequently a cabinet
-level one, especially in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when it was normally a political appointment. In 1855 the post was discontinued and certain of the ceremonial aspects of the post were subsequently vested in the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
. In 1904 the post was re-established and until 1938 the Master-General of the Ordnance was the Fourth Military Member of the Army Board
.
In 1913 the control of military aviation was separated from the responsibilities of the Master-General of the Ordnance. A new Department of Military Aeronautics was established and Brigadier-General Henderson was appointed the first director.
The role still exists but is now held by a Major-General.
Holders of the post have included:
The post was abolished by Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of State for War
, as he perceived it to be a block on production, transferring tank development responsibility to the Director General of Munitions Development. It was not reinstated until 1959
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military position before 1855, when the Board of Ordnance
Board of Ordnance
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the Royal Navy and British Army. It was also responsible for providing artillery trains for armies and maintaining coastal fortresses and, later, management of the artillery and engineer...
was abolished.
Responsibilities
Usually held by a serving generalGeneral (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
, the Master-General of the Ordnance was responsible for all British artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
, engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
s, fortifications, military supplies, transport, field hospitals and much else, and was not subordinate to the commander-in chief
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief , was the professional head of the British Army from 1660 until 1904, when the office was replaced by the Chief of the General Staff, soon to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff . From 1870, the C-in-C was subordinate to...
of the British military. In 1764 it established the British standard ordnance weights and measurements
British standard ordnance weights and measurements
The British standard ordnance weights and measurements for the artillery were established by the Master General of Ordnance in 1764, and these were not altered until 1919 when the metric system was additionally introduced....
for the artillery, one of the earliest standards in the world.
The position was frequently a cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
-level one, especially in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when it was normally a political appointment. In 1855 the post was discontinued and certain of the ceremonial aspects of the post were subsequently vested in the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief , was the professional head of the British Army from 1660 until 1904, when the office was replaced by the Chief of the General Staff, soon to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff . From 1870, the C-in-C was subordinate to...
. In 1904 the post was re-established and until 1938 the Master-General of the Ordnance was the Fourth Military Member of the Army Board
Army Board
The Army Board is the senior single-service management committee of the British Army:-Army Board members:*Civilian** The Secretary of State for Defence** Minister for the Armed Forces** Minister for Defence Equipment and Support...
.
In 1913 the control of military aviation was separated from the responsibilities of the Master-General of the Ordnance. A new Department of Military Aeronautics was established and Brigadier-General Henderson was appointed the first director.
The role still exists but is now held by a Major-General.
Masters-General of the Ordnance, 1544–1855
- Nicholas Merbury, appointed about 1415–1420 by Henry VHenry V of EnglandHenry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
- Sir Thomas SeymourThomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of SudeleyThomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, KG was an English politician.Thomas spent his childhood in Wulfhall, outside Savernake Forest, in Wiltshire. Historian David Starkey describes Thomas thus: 'tall, well-built and with a dashing beard and auburn hair, he was irresistible to women'...
1544–1547 - Sir Philip HobyPhilip HobySir Philip Hoby was a 16th century English Ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and Flanders....
1547–1554 - Sir Richard Southwell 1554–1559
- Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of WarwickAmbrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of WarwickAmbrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, KG was an English nobleman and general, and an elder brother of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester...
1560–1585 - Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick jointly with Sir Philip SidneyPhilip SidneySir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
1585–1586 - Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1586–1590
- Sir Henry Lee of DitchleyHenry Lee of DitchleySir Henry Lee KG , of Ditchley, was Master of the Ordnance under Queen Elizabeth I of England.-Life:Lee became Queen Elizabeth I’s champion in 1570 and was appointed Master of the Royal Armouries in 1580, an office which he held until his death...
1590–1597 - Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of EssexRobert Devereux, 2nd Earl of EssexRobert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
1597–1601 - vacant 1601–1603
- Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devonshire 1603–1606
- vacant 1606–1608
- George Carew, 1st Lord Carew, 1st Earl of TotnesGeorge Carew (Ireland)George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes , known as Sir George Carew between 1586 and 1605 and as The Lord Carew between 1605 and 1626, served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. -Early career:Carew was the son of Dr...
(1626) 1608–1629 - Horace Vere, 1st Lord Vere of TilburyHorace VereSir Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury was an English military leader during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, a son of Geoffrey Vere and brother of Francis Vere. He was sent to the Palatinate by James I in 1620...
1629–1634 - Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of NewportMountjoy BlountMountjoy Blount may refer to:* Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport * Mountjoy Blount, 2nd Earl of Newport...
1634–1661 - Sir William ComptonWilliam Compton (army officer)Sir William Compton was an English royalist army officer. He earned the name of the "godly cavalier" in 1648, from Oliver Cromwell, for his conduct at the siege of Colchester.-Life:...
1661–1663 - in commission 1664–1670
-
- William Berkeley, 1st Lord Berkeley
- Sir John DuncombeJohn DuncombeSir John Duncombe was an English politician.John Duncombe was the son of William Duncombe. He was educated at Eton College and St John's College, Cambridge. He was knighted in 1646. Duncombe was Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds from 1660 to 1678, and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 22...
- Thomas ChicheleyThomas ChicheleySir Thomas Chicheley was a politician in England in the seventeenth century who fell from favour in the reign of James II. His name is sometimes spelt as Chichele....
- Sir Thomas Chicheley 1670–1679
- in commission 1679–1682
- Sir John Chicheley
- Sir William Hickman, 2nd Bt.
- Sir Christopher Musgrave
- George Legge, 1st Baron DartmouthGeorge Legge, 1st Baron DartmouthAdmiral George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth PC was an English naval commander who gave distinguished service to both Charles II and James II.-Biography:...
1682–1688 - Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of SchombergFrederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of SchombergFriedrich Hermann , 1st Duke of Schomberg , KG , was a marshal of France and a General in the English and Portuguese Army....
1689–1690 - vacant 1690–1693
- Henry Sidney, 1st Earl of Romney 1693–1702
- John Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
1702–1712 - Richard Savage, 4th Earl RiversRichard Savage, 4th Earl RiversRichard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers PC was the second son of Thomas, 3rd Earl; and after the death about 1680 of his elder brother Thomas, styled Viscount Colchester, he was designated by that title until he succeeded to the peerage....
1712 - James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton 1712
- vacant 1712–1714
- John Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
1714–1722 - William Cadogan, 1st Earl CadoganWilliam Cadogan, 1st Earl CadoganWilliam Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan KT PC was a noted military officer in the army of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession...
1722–1725 - François de La Rochefoucauld, Marquis de Montendre, Field-Marshal of Great Britain 1725
- John Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllJohn Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllField Marshal John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, 1st Duke of Greenwich KG , known as Iain Ruaidh nan Cath or Red John of the Battles, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman.-Early Life:...
1725–1740 - John Montagu, 2nd Duke of MontaguJohn Montagu, 2nd Duke of MontaguJohn Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, KG, KB, PC , styled Viscount Monthermer until 1705 and Marquess of Monthermer between 1705 and 1709, was a British peer...
1740–1742 - John Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllJohn Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllField Marshal John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, 1st Duke of Greenwich KG , known as Iain Ruaidh nan Cath or Red John of the Battles, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman.-Early Life:...
1742 - John Montagu, 2nd Duke of MontaguJohn Montagu, 2nd Duke of MontaguJohn Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, KG, KB, PC , styled Viscount Monthermer until 1705 and Marquess of Monthermer between 1705 and 1709, was a British peer...
1742–1749 - vacant 1749–1755
- Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer, 3rd Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
1755–1758 - vacant 1758–1759
- John Ligonier, 1st Viscount LigonierJohn Ligonier, 1st Earl LigonierField Marshal John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, KB, PC was a French-born British soldier.He was born to a Huguenot family of Castres in the south of France, and who emigrated to England at the close of the 17th century...
1759–1763 - John Manners, Marquess of GranbyJohn Manners, Marquess of GranbyGeneral John Manners, Marquess of Granby PC, , British soldier, was the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father, he was known by his father's subsidiary title, Marquess of Granby...
1763–1770 - vacant 1770–1772
- George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend 1772–1782
- Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondField Marshal Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Aubigny, KG, PC, FRS , styled Earl of March until 1750, was a British politician and office holder noteworthy for his advanced views on the issue of parliamentary reform...
1782–1783 - George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend 1783–1784
- Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondField Marshal Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Aubigny, KG, PC, FRS , styled Earl of March until 1750, was a British politician and office holder noteworthy for his advanced views on the issue of parliamentary reform...
1784–1795 - Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
1795–1801 - John Pitt, 2nd Earl of ChathamJohn Pitt, 2nd Earl of ChathamGeneral John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC was a British peer and soldier.-Career:He was the eldest son of William Pitt the Elder and an elder brother of William Pitt the Younger...
1801–1806 - Francis Rawdon Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira 1806–1807
- John Pitt, 2nd Earl of ChathamJohn Pitt, 2nd Earl of ChathamGeneral John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC was a British peer and soldier.-Career:He was the eldest son of William Pitt the Elder and an elder brother of William Pitt the Younger...
1807–1810 - Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of MulgraveHenry Phipps, 1st Earl of MulgraveHenry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave GCB, PC , styled The Honourable Henry Phipps until 1792 and known as The Lord Mulgrave from 1792 to 1812, was a British soldier and politician...
1810–1819 - Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonField Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
1819–1827 - Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey 1827–1828
- William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount BeresfordWilliam Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount BeresfordGeneral William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior, GCB, GCH, GCTE, PC , was a British soldier and politician...
1828–1830 - Sir James KemptJames KemptGeneral Sir James Kempt, GCB was a British Army officer, who served in Holland, Egypt, Italy, the Peninsula, and British North America during the Napoleonic Wars...
1830–1834 - Sir George Murray 1834–1835
- Sir Richard Hussey Vivian, 1st Bt. 1835–1841
- Sir George Murray 1841–1846
- Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey 1846–1852
- Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount HardingeHenry Hardinge, 1st Viscount HardingeField Marshal Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge, GCB, PC was a British field marshal and Governor-general of India.-Army career:...
1852 - Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan 1852–1855
- George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth
Post-1855
Post vacant from 1855 to 1904Holders of the post have included:
- Lieutenant General Sir James Murray (1904–1907)
- Major General Sir Charles HaddenCharles HaddenMajor-General Sir Charles Frederick Hadden KCB is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Hadden was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1873...
(1907–1913) - Major General Sir Stanley Von DonopStanley Brenton Von DonopMajor-General Sir Stanley Brenton Von Donop KCB KCMG is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Von Donop was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He served in the Second Boer War and in 1901 was appointed Commanding Officer of Lord Methuen's Composite Regiment of Australian...
(1913–1916) - Lieutenant General Sir William FurseWilliam FurseLieutenant General Sir William Thomas Furse KCB KCMG DSO was a Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Furse was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1884. He was Aide-de-Camp to Lord Roberts from 1891 to 1893.He served in the Second...
(1916–1919) - Lieutenant General Sir John Du CaneJohn Philip Du CaneGeneral Sir John Du Cane GCB is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Du Cane was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1884....
(1920–1923) - Lieutenant General Sir Noel BirchNoel BirchGeneral Sir James Frederick Noel Birch KCB KCMG was a British Cavalry Officer during the Second Boer War and World War I and subsequently Master-General of the Ordnance...
(1923–1927) - Lieutenant General Sir Webb GillmanWebb GillmanGeneral Sir Webb Gillman KCB KCMG DSO was a British Army General during World War I.-Military career:Educated at Dulwich College, Gillman was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1889...
(1927–1931) - Lieutenant General Sir Ronald Charles (1931–1934)
- Lieutenant General Sir Hugh EllesHugh EllesLieutenant General Sir Hugh Jamieson Elles KCB KCMG KCVO DSO was a British General and the first commander of the newly formed Tank Corps in the First World War.-Early life:...
(1934–1938)
The post was abolished by Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
, as he perceived it to be a block on production, transferring tank development responsibility to the Director General of Munitions Development. It was not reinstated until 1959
- Lieutenant General Sir John Cowley (1960–1962)
- General Sir Cecil SugdenCecil SugdenGeneral Sir Cecil Sugden GBE KCB is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Brighton College, Sugden was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1923....
(1962–1963) - Lieutenant General Sir Charles JonesCharles Phibbs JonesGeneral Sir Charles Phibbs Jones GCB CBE MC was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1950s.-Military career:Charles Jones was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1925...
(1963–1966) - Lieutenant General Sir Charles RichardsonCharles Leslie RichardsonGeneral Sir Charles Leslie Richardson GCB CBE DSO was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1950s.-Military career:...
(1966–1971) - General Sir Noel ThomasNoel ThomasGeneral Sir Noel Thomas KCB DSO MC is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Thomas was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1936....
(1971–1974) - General Sir John GibbonJohn Gibbon (British Army officer)General Sir John Gibbon GCB OBE is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Gibbon was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1939....
(1974–1977) - General Sir Hugh BeachHugh BeachGeneral Sir Hugh Beach, GBE, KCB, MC is a British soldier who, in retirement, researches and advises on defence policy, arms control and disarmament, with an active interest in promoting concerns about ethical issues of peace and war....
(1977–1981) - General Sir Peter LengPeter LengGeneral Sir Peter John Hall Leng, KCB, MBE, MC was a British Army General & Master-General of the Ordnance & Counter Terrorism Expert in Northern Ireland.-Military service:...
(1981–1983) - General Sir Richard VincentRichard Vincent, Baron Vincent of ColeshillField Marshal Richard Frederick Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill, GBE, KCB, DSO , was Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces...
(1983–1987) - General Sir John StibbonJohn StibbonGeneral Sir John James Stibbon KCB OBE is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Portsmouth Southern Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Stibbon was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1954.He was appointed Commanding Officer of 28th...
(1987–1991) - General Sir Jeremy BlackerJeremy BlackerGeneral Sir Anthony Stephen Jeremy Blacker KCB CBE is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Sherborne School, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Blacker was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment in 1959...
(1991–1995) - Lieutenant General Sir Robert Hayman-JoyceRobert Hayman-JoyceLieutenant General Sir Robert John Hayman-Joyce KCB CBE DL is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Hayman Joyce was commissioned into the 11th Hussars in 1963....
(1995–1998) - Major General David Jenkins (1998–2000)
- Major General Peter Gilchrist (2000–2004)
- Major General Andrew FigguresAndrew FigguresLieutenant General Andrew Collingwood Figgures CB CBE is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Loughborough Grammar School, Welbeck College and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, Figgures was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1970.In...
(2004–2006) - Major General Dick ApplegateDick ApplegateLieutenant General Richard Arthur David Applegate CB OBE is a former Quartermaster-General and Master-General of the Ordnance to the Army. He left the British Army in October 2010 and is now a Director of Eagle Strategic Consulting Ltd....
(June 2006-November 2006) - Major General Chris WilsonChristopher Wilson (British Army officer)Major-General Christopher Colin Wilson CB CBE is a former British Army officer who became Director of Battlefield Manoeuvre and Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Wilson was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1973...
(2006-2010) - Major-General Bill Moore (since January 2010)