Master of the Mint
Encyclopedia
Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland
and England
, and later Great Britain
, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint
. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet. The office was abolished as an independent position in 1870, thereafter being held as a subsidiary office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
and England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
, and later Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet. The office was abolished as an independent position in 1870, thereafter being held as a subsidiary office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
.
Masters of the Mint in England
- Sir John YorkJohn York (Master of the Mint)Sir John York or Yorke was an English merchant who became Master of the Mint.-Life:He was third son of John Yorke, by his wife Katherine Patterdale or Patterdall. On 3 September 1535 he arrived at Calais from Antwerp with intelligence of a sermon preached against King Henry VIII, by a friar in ...
1547–1553 - John Lonyson 1571–1582
- Sir Richard MartinRichard Martin (Lord Mayor of London)Sir Richard Martin was an English goldsmith and Master of the Mint who served as Sheriff and twice as Lord Mayor of the City of London during the reign of Elizabeth I.-Early career:...
1582–1617 - Sir Edward Villiers 1617–1623
- Sir Randal Cranfield 1623–1626
- Sir Robert Harley 1626–1635
- Commission 1635–1643:
- Sir Ralph FreemanRalph Freeman (lawyer)Sir Ralph Freeman was an English civil lawyer, also known as a dramatist and translator. He should not be confused with another Sir Ralph Freeman who was lord mayor of London, and died on 16 March 1634.-Life:...
- Sir Thomas AylesburySir Thomas Aylesbury, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Aylesbury, 1st Baronet was an English civil servant, Surveyor of the Navy from 1628 and jointly Master of the Mint from 1635, and a patron of mathematical learning.-Life:...
- Sir Ralph Freeman
- Sir Robert Harley 1643–1649
- Aaron Guerdon 1649–1653
- Sir Ralph FreemanRalph Freeman (lawyer)Sir Ralph Freeman was an English civil lawyer, also known as a dramatist and translator. He should not be confused with another Sir Ralph Freeman who was lord mayor of London, and died on 16 March 1634.-Life:...
1660–1662 - Sir Ralph FreemanRalph Freeman (lawyer)Sir Ralph Freeman was an English civil lawyer, also known as a dramatist and translator. He should not be confused with another Sir Ralph Freeman who was lord mayor of London, and died on 16 March 1634.-Life:...
and Henry Slingsby 1662–1667 - Henry Slingsby 1667–1680
- Commission 1680–1684
- Sir John Buckworth
- Charles DuncombeCharles DuncombeCharles Duncombe was a leader in the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837.He was born in Connecticut and became a doctor in 1819. He then settled in Upper Canada, and in 1824 he established the first medical school in Upper Canada, in St. Thomas, under the patronage of Colonel Thomas Talbot...
- James HoareJames HoareJames Edward Hoare is a British academic and historian specializing in Chinese and Korean studies, and a career diplomat in the British Foreign Office.-Academia:Dr. Hoare is a graduate of London's School of Oriental and African Studies...
- Commission 1684–1686
- Thomas NealeThomas NealeThomas Neale was a British project-manager and politician who was also well-known in the United States as the first person to hold a position equivalent to postmaster-general of the North American colonies....
- Charles DuncombeCharles DuncombeCharles Duncombe was a leader in the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837.He was born in Connecticut and became a doctor in 1819. He then settled in Upper Canada, and in 1824 he established the first medical school in Upper Canada, in St. Thomas, under the patronage of Colonel Thomas Talbot...
- James HoareJames HoareJames Edward Hoare is a British academic and historian specializing in Chinese and Korean studies, and a career diplomat in the British Foreign Office.-Academia:Dr. Hoare is a graduate of London's School of Oriental and African Studies...
- Thomas Neale
- Thomas NealeThomas NealeThomas Neale was a British project-manager and politician who was also well-known in the United States as the first person to hold a position equivalent to postmaster-general of the North American colonies....
1686–1699 - Sir Isaac NewtonIsaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
1700–1727 - John ConduittJohn ConduittJohn Conduitt was a British Member of Parliament and Master of the Mint.-Early life, education and family:Conduitt was the son of Leonard and Sarah Conduitt, and was baptized at St Paul's, Covent Garden, London, on 8 March 1688. He was admitted to St Peter's College Westminster School as a King's...
1727–1737 - Richard Arundell 1737–1745
- Hon. William ChetwyndWilliam Chetwynd, 3rd Viscount ChetwyndWilliam Richard Chetwynd, 3rd Viscount Chetwynd was the youngest son of John Chetwynd and thus younger brother of Walter Chetwynd, 1st Viscount Chetwynd and John Chetwynd, 2nd Viscount Chetwynd. He succeeded to their Irish peerage under a special remainder.He was educated at Westminster School ...
1745–1769 - Hon. Charles CadoganCharles Cadogan, 1st Earl CadoganCharles Sloane Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan was a British peer and Whig politician.Cadogan was the only son of the 2nd Baron Cadogan and his wife, Elizabeth, the second daughter of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. From 1749–54 and again from 1755, Cadogan was a Member of Parliament for Cambridge until he...
1769–1784 - The Earl of EffinghamThomas Howard, 3rd Earl of EffinghamLieutenant-Colonel Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham PC , styled Lord Howard until 1763, was a British nobleman and Army officer, the son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham....
1784–1789 - The Earl of ChesterfieldPhilip Stanhope, 5th Earl of ChesterfieldPhilip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield KG, PC, FRS, FSA , known as Philip Stanhope until 1773, was a British politician and diplomat...
1789–1790 - The Earl of LeicesterGeorge Townshend, 2nd Marquess TownshendGeorge Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, PC, FRS , known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1770 to 1784 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1784 to 1807, was a British peer and politician....
1790–1794 - Sir George Yonge 1794–1799
- Lord HawkesburyRobert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of LiverpoolRobert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
1799–1801 - The Lord ArdenCharles Perceval, 2nd Baron ArdenCharles George Perceval, 2nd Baron Arden PC FRS was a British politician.-Background and education:Arden was born at Charlton, Kent, the son of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, by his second wife Catherine, 1st Baroness Arden, daughter of the Hon. Charles Compton. Prime Minister Spencer Perceval...
1801–1802 - John SmythJohn Smyth (1748–1811)John Smyth was a British politician. He was an MP for Pontefract from 1783 to 1807.-References:*Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Smyth, John , politician by Stephen M. Lee...
1802–1804 - The Earl BathurstHenry Bathurst, 3rd Earl BathurstHenry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst KG PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Lord Bathurst was the elder son of Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, by his wife Tryphena, daughter of Thomas Scawen...
1804–1806 - Lord Charles SpencerLord Charles SpencerLord Charles Spencer PC was a British politician and courtier.-Background:Spencer was the second son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, and the Hon. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Trevor, 2nd Baron Trevor...
1806 - Charles BathurstCharles BathurstCharles Bathurst PC , known as Charles Bragge from 1754 to 1804, was a British politician of the early 19th century.-Background and education:...
1806–1807 - The Earl BathurstHenry Bathurst, 3rd Earl BathurstHenry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst KG PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Lord Bathurst was the elder son of Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, by his wife Tryphena, daughter of Thomas Scawen...
1807–1812 - The Earl of Clancarty 1812–1814
- Hon. William Wellesley-PoleWilliam Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of MorningtonWilliam Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington GCH, PC, PC , known as The Lord Maryborough between 1821 and 1842, was a British politician and an elder brother of the Duke of Wellington....
1814–1823 - Thomas Wallace, 1st Baron WallaceThomas Wallace, 1st Baron WallaceThomas Wallace, 1st Baron Wallace PC was an English politician.-Background:Wallace was the son of James Wallace , a barrister who served as Solicitor General for England and Wales and as Attorney General, by Elizabeth, only daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Simpson, Esquire, of Carleton Hall,...
1823–1827 - George TierneyGeorge TierneyGeorge Tierney PC was an English Whig politician.-Background and education:Born in Gibraltar, Tierney was the son of Thomas Tierney, a wealthy Irish merchant of London, who was living in Gibraltar as prize agent. He was sent to Eton and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he took the degree of Law in 1784...
1827–1828 - John Charles HerriesJohn Charles HerriesJohn Charles Herries PC , known as J. C. Herries, was a British politician and financier and a frequent member of Tory and Conservative cabinets in the early to mid 19th century.-Background and education:...
1828–1830 - The Lord AucklandGeorge Eden, 1st Earl of AucklandGeorge Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, GCB, PC was a British Whig politician and colonial administrator. He was thrice First Lord of the Admiralty and also served as Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842....
1830–1834 - Hon. James AbercrombieJames Abercromby, 1st Baron DunfermlineJames Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline PC , was a British barrister and Whig politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1835 and 1839.-Background and education:...
1834–1835 - Alexander BaringAlexander Baring, 1st Baron AshburtonAlexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton PC was a British politician and financier.-Background:Baring was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, and of Harriet, daughter of William Herring...
1835 - Henry LabouchereHenry Labouchere, 1st Baron TauntonHenry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton PC was a prominent British Whig and Liberal Party politician of the mid-19th century.-Background and education:...
1835–1841 - William Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
1841–1845 - Sir George ClerkSir George Clerk, 6th BaronetSir George Clerk of Pennycuik, 6th Baronet PC, DL , was a British Tory politician.-Background:Clerk was the son of James Clerk, third son of Sir George Clerk-Maxwell, 4th Baronet, by his wife Janet Irving, daughter of George Irving, of Newton.-Political career:Clerk sat as Member of Parliament for...
1845–1846 - Richard Lalor SheilRichard Lalor SheilRichard Lalor Sheil , Irish politician, writer and orator, was born at Drumdowney, Slieverue, County Kilkenny, Ireland...
1846–1850 - Sir John HerschelJohn HerschelSir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet KH, FRS ,was an English mathematician, astronomer, chemist, and experimental photographer/inventor, who in some years also did valuable botanical work...
1850–1855 - Thomas GrahamThomas Graham (chemist)Thomas Graham FRS was a nineteenth-century Scottish chemist who is best-remembered today for his pioneering work in dialysis and the diffusion of gases.- Life and work :...
1855–1869