Clerk of the Acts

Office of the Clerk of the Acts
Flag of the Navy Board
Department of the Admiralty
Member ofNavy Board (1546–1796)
Reports toFirst Lord of the Admiralty
NominatorFirst Lord of the Admiralty
AppointerMonarch, with advice from council/ministers
Term lengthNot fixed (usually for life)
Inaugural holderSamuel Pepys
Formationc. 1660–1796

The Clerk of the Acts,[1] originally known as the Keeper of the King's Ports and Galleys,[2][3][4][5] was a civilian officer in the Royal Navy and a principal member of the Navy Board. The office was created by King Charles II in 1660 and succeeded the earlier position of Clerk of the Navy (1546 to 1660). The Clerk was responsible for the organisation of Navy Office, processing naval contracts and coordinating the administrative and secretarial side of the Navy Board's work. The post lasted until 1796, when its duties were merged with that of the Second Secretary to the Admiralty later known as the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty.[6]

  1. ^ Ehrman, John (Feb 2, 2012). The Navy in the War of William III 1689–1697: Its State and Direction. Cambridge University Press. p. 181. ISBN 9781107645110.
  2. ^ Runyan, Timothy J. (1987). Ships, Seafaring, and Society: Essays in Maritime History. Wayne State University Press. p. 42. ISBN 0814319912.
  3. ^ Lloyd, Christopher (1970). The British Seaman 1200–1860: A Social Survey. Associated University Presse. p. 17. ISBN 9780838677087.
  4. ^ Oppenheim, Michael (23 February 2014). "The Administration of the Royal Navy before 1509". A History Of The Administration Of The Royal Navy And Of Merchant Shipping In Relation To The Navy, From Mdix To Mdclx, With An Introduction Treating Of The Preceding Period. Original. (1940). Nabu Press. p. 3. ISBN 9781295694860.
  5. ^ "Naval Review (London)". 34. 1946: 339. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Ehrman, John (Feb 2, 2012). The Navy in the War of William III 1689–1697: Its State and Direction. Cambridge University Press. p. 181. ISBN 9781107645110.