Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
Encyclopedia
The Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is an officer in Scotland
who represents the Crown
's interests in bona vacantia
, ultimus haeres
and treasure trove
.
The Q<R holds two offices, both instituted at the foundation of the Court of Exchequer
in 1707 and which were joined in 1836. The Queen's Remembrancer was the chief executive officer of the Exchequer under the Barons of Exchequer
. The Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's principal duty was the examination and audit
of the criminal accounts for Scotland. In more recent history, this officer was the Treasury
representative on various Scottish government boards and acted as Paymaster-General
in Scotland.
From 1858 the office of Q<R was held in conjunction with that of Registrar of Companies
, Limited Partnerships and Business Names, auditor of the accounts of sheriff clerk
s and procurators fiscal, responsible for the collection of fines and penalties imposed in Scottish courts, Keeper of the Edinburgh Gazette
, administrator of treasure trove and of estate
s of deceased persons which fall to the crown as ultimus haeres, and responsible for the custody of the Regalia of Scotland
kept in Edinburgh Castle
.
In 1981 the office was transferred to the Crown Agent, the senior officer of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
. Since 1999 that office has been part of the Scottish Executive
, and the link with the Treasury has been severed.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
who represents the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
's interests in bona vacantia
Bona vacantia
Bona vacantia is a legal concept associated with property that has no owner. It exists in various jurisdictions, with consequently varying application, but with origins mostly in English law.-Canada:...
, ultimus haeres
Ultimus haeres
Ultimus haeres is a concept in Scots law where if a person in Scotland who dies without leaving a will and has no blood relative who can be easily traced, the estate is claimed by the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer on behalf of the Crown.In England, the equivalent concept is called...
and treasure trove
Treasure trove
A treasure trove may broadly be defined as an amount of money or coin, gold, silver, plate, or bullion found hidden underground or in places such as cellars or attics, where the treasure seems old enough for it to be presumed that the true owner is dead and the heirs undiscoverable...
.
The Q<R holds two offices, both instituted at the foundation of the Court of Exchequer
Court of Exchequer (Scotland)
The Court of Exchequer was formerly a distinct part of the court system in Scotland, with responsibility for administration of government revenue and judicial matters relating to customs and excise, revenue, stamp duty and probate...
in 1707 and which were joined in 1836. The Queen's Remembrancer was the chief executive officer of the Exchequer under the Barons of Exchequer
Court of Exchequer (Scotland)
The Court of Exchequer was formerly a distinct part of the court system in Scotland, with responsibility for administration of government revenue and judicial matters relating to customs and excise, revenue, stamp duty and probate...
. The Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's principal duty was the examination and audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
of the criminal accounts for Scotland. In more recent history, this officer was the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
representative on various Scottish government boards and acted as Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
in Scotland.
From 1858 the office of Q<R was held in conjunction with that of Registrar of Companies
Registrar of Companies
The Registrar of Companies for England, Wales & Scotland is the official responsible for Companies House, which deals with all filings relating to the Companies Act 1985 to 2006, ensuring the document filings are kept up-to-date and deals with any breaches of the Companies Act.The Registrar Of...
, Limited Partnerships and Business Names, auditor of the accounts of sheriff clerk
Sheriff Court
Sheriff courts provide the local court service in Scotland, with each court serving a sheriff court district within a sheriffdom.Sheriff courts deal with a myriad of legal procedures which include:*Solemn and Summary Criminal cases...
s and procurators fiscal, responsible for the collection of fines and penalties imposed in Scottish courts, Keeper of the Edinburgh Gazette
Edinburgh Gazette
The Edinburgh Gazette, along with the London Gazette and the Belfast Gazette, is an official newspaper of the United Kingdom government...
, administrator of treasure trove and of estate
Estate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
s of deceased persons which fall to the crown as ultimus haeres, and responsible for the custody of the Regalia of Scotland
Honours of Scotland
The Honours of Scotland, also known as the Scottish regalia and the Scottish Crown Jewels, dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, are the oldest set of crown jewels in the British Isles. The existing set were used for the coronation of Scottish monarchs from 1543 to 1651...
kept in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
.
In 1981 the office was transferred to the Crown Agent, the senior officer of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides the independent public prosecution service for Scotland, and is a Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government. The department is headed by Her Majesty's Lord Advocate, who under the Scottish legal system is responsible for prosecution,...
. Since 1999 that office has been part of the Scottish Executive
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
, and the link with the Treasury has been severed.
Office holders
- 1832: John Henderson
- 1870: Stair AgnewStair AgnewSir Stair Agnew KCB FRSE was a Scottish public official.The fifth son of Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, 7th Baronet, he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1855...
CB, Advocate - 1881: John James Reid, Advocate
- 1889: Reginald MacLeod of MacLeodReginald MacLeod of MacLeodSir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, KCB was the 27th chief of the Scottish clan Clan MacLeod.-Biography:...
CB - 1900: Sir Kenneth John Mackenzie Bt
- 1921: Sir James Adam CBE KC
- 1926: John Alexander Inglis KC
- 1942: Percy Jesse Gowlett Rose CB
- 1948: Wiliam Douglas Collier
- 1954: Peter Jamieson ISO
- 1961: William Steel
- 1964: James Bertie Ian McTavish OBE
- 1977: David Edmiston Drummond Robertson
- 1981:
- 1996: Andrew Normand
- 2002: Norman McFadyen CBE
- 2009: Catherine Dyer
External links
- QLTR overview Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service