The Office of the Lord Lieutenant was created during the reign of Henry VIII (1509–1547), taking over the military duties of the Sheriffs and control of the military forces of the Crown. From 1569 there was provision for the appointment of Deputy Lieutenants, and in 1662 the Lord-Lieutenant was given entire control of the militia. The Regulation of the Forces Act 1871 transferred this function back to the Crown, and in 1921, the office lost its power to call upon men of the county to fight in case of need. Since 1711 all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Devon.
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Appointment and current duties
Lord Lieutenants are appointed by the King for each county in the United Kingdom, to represent the Crown. They are non-political and retire at the age of 75. The post is unpaid.
The five main duties of the Lord Lieutenant are:
Arranging visits to the county by members of the royal family and escorting royal visitors;
Presenting medals and awards on behalf of His Majesty, and advising on honours nominations;
As Custos Rotulorum of Devon, leading local judicial bodies as Chairman of the Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace and General Commissioners of Income Tax;
Liaising with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army (and Territorial Army), Royal Air Force and associated cadet forces; and
Participating in civic and voluntary activities.
List of Lord Lieutenants of Devon
The following persons served as Lord Lieutenant of Devon:
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1555 of Bedford House, Exeter and of Chenies in Buckinghamshire;
John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath 1556–1561, of Tawstock, Devon
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford 1584 – 28 July 1585
William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath 12 September 1586 – 12 July 1623 (son-in-law of his predecessor Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford), of Tawstock, Devon
Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford 18 July 1623 – 9 May 1641 jointly with
William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford 30 March 1637 – 1642
Interregnum
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle 23 July 1660 – 3 January 1670, of Potheridge, Devon
John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath 10 February 1670 – 1675, of Stowe, Kilkhampton, Cornwall and of Bideford, Devon;
Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle 2 December 1675 – 1685, of Potheridge, Devon
John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath 7 December 1685 – 1696 jointly with
Charles Granville, 2nd Baron Granville 6 May 1691 – 1693
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford 24 April 1696 – 1702
Deputy lieutenants
A deputy lieutenant of Devon is commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon. Deputy lieutenants support the work of the lord-lieutenant. There can be several deputy lieutenants at any time, depending on the population of the county. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the lord-lieutenant, but they usually retire at age 75.
19th century
25 January 1831: John Quicke
25 January 1831: William Nation
25 January 1831: John Milford
25 January 1831: Samuel White
25 January 1831: John White Abbott
25 January 1831: Charles Holman
25 January 1831: George Truscott
25 January 1831: William Browning